UC-NRLF 


SB    33 


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AGR1C.  DEPT. 


A  JANUARY   MORNING  \ 


H   THE   WYANDOTTES. 


CHROMO  EDITION.— No.  2  OF  THE  SERIES  OF  AMERICAN  BREEDS. 


Their  Origin,   History,   Characteristics    and    Standard 

Points ;   How  to  Mate,  Judge  and  Rear  Them  for 

Exhibition  and  Commercial  Purposes ;  with  a 

Chapter  on  Their  Diseases  and  Treatment. 


o£  "HEBs-irareicl    SL«.d    "White; 


IR-oolts,"    &.&. 


ALBANY,  N.  Y.: 

FERRIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

1891. 


vvq 


ENTERED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT   OF  CONGRESS,   IN   THE  YEAR  EIGHTEEN   HUNDRED 
AND  NINETY-ONE,   BY 

FERRIS    PUBLISHING   COMPANY, 
IN  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE    LIBRARIAN  OF  CONGRESS,   AT  WASHINGTON,   D.   C. 


n 


TAYLOR  &  ROBERTS, 

PRINTERS, 
481   BROADWAY,  ALBANY,   N.  Y. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  popular  adage,  that  we  "  Cannot  have  too  much  of  a  good 
thing,"  is  verified  by  the  unprecedented  popularity  of  the  Wyandotte 
family,  as  it  increases  in  numbers,  influence  and  beauty.  In  offering 
this  new  work  to  the  Wyandotte  breeders  of  America,  as  a  larger 
companion  to  our  Plymouth  Rock  monograph,  we  make  no  apology 
for  its  appearance  at  the  present  time,  as  the  title  page  of  the  latter 
bears  the  announcement  of  the  coming  of  a  series  on  "  American 
Breeds." 

The  Wyandotte  family  has  outgrown  the  environment  of  small 
and  early-written  works.  The  monograph  on  "The  Wyandotte 
Fowl,"  written  by  Mr.  Felch  and  the  writer,  for  the  Ferris  Publish- 
ing Company,  seven  years  ago,  fails  now  to  satisfy  the  breeders  and 
admirers  of  the  Golden,  Black  and  White  varieties,  because  it  treats 
only  of  the  original  laced  breed.  The  addition  of  three  important 
members  to  the  family,  necessitates  a  new  and  larger  work  and  this 
has  been  produced  in  the  one  now  presented  to  the  Wyandotte 
breeders  of  the  New  and  Old  Worlds. 

We  trust  that  the  breeders  and  admirers  of  the  four  Wyandotte 
varieties,  which  are  described  singly  and  otherwise  fully  treated  of, 
considering  the  limited  space  at  our  command,  will  largely  profit  by 
the  perusal  and  study  of  this  work.  Although  this  book  is  gotten  up 
in  the  popular  and  pleasing  style  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  work,  //  is 
more  than  one-third  larger  and  the  subjects  are  more  varied,  more 
thoroughly  discussed  and  more  comprehensive.  It  is  new  and  fresh 
from  beginning  to  end,  and  one  variety  does  not  suffer  at  the 
expense  of  another. 

270410 


6  WYANDOTTES. 

HEMLOCK  LAKE,  N.  Y.,  August  7,  1871. 

Dear  Sir — I  was  at  Lima  last  week  and  saw  some  Sebright  chickens  that  were 
hatched  from  eggs  obtained  from  you. 

I  have  a  nice  lot  of  the  same  breed,  and  wish  to  get  two  cocks  to  cross  with  my 
hens,  as  mine  are  all  related.  If  you  can  spare  those  that  are  well  marked,  with 
double  or  rose  combs,  that  will  make  good  size  cocks,  you  may  send  them  to  me.  I 
am  particular  about  the  comb,  as  mine  are  rose  combs  and  I  do  not  wish  to  breed 
them  single.  Write  me  if  you  have  them  to  spare  and  at  what  price. 

Yours  truly, 
REV.  MR.  BAKER.  JOHN  P.  RAY. 

Endorsed  on  the  back  of  this  letter  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baker's  reply. 

J.  P.  RAY:  HONEOYE  FALLS,  August  28,  1871. 

Dear  Sir — I  have  no  fowls  to  sell.  I  think  you  could  get  two  cocks  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Benson  if  you  would  apply  soon.  Mr.  Benson  would  probably  want  $i  each. 

A.  S.  BAKER. 

Evidently  single  and  rose  combs  appeared  in  the  early  Sebright 
Cochins,  as  the  single  comb  has  done  in  some  broods  since  the 
Silver  Wyandotte  was  admitted  to  the  Standard.  This  feature 
appeared  in  two  separate  broods,  which  we  reared  seven  years  ago, 
and  the  eggs  were  purchased  from  two  breeders  in  the  state  of  New 
York.  The  birds  with  single  combs  were  much  lighter  in  plumage, 
and  the  lacing  showed  a  very  close  resemblance  to  that  of  the  Silver 
Spangled  Hamburg. 

Thus  we  see  that  Messrs.  Ray,  Baker  and  Benson  were  in 
possession  of  the  foundation  material  of  the  Silver  Wyandotte  in 
1871.  The  following  year  a  cut  of  one  of  Mr.  Ray's  birds  appeared 
in  the  Rural  Home.  The  same  and  following  year  he  sold  some  of 
his  stock  to  Messrs.  McMillan,  Dudley,  Whittaker  and  Hull.  The 
subsequent  cross  on  this  foundation  blood  was  a  Silver  Spangled 
Hamburg  and  Dark  Brahma.  No  pea  comb  appeared  until  after 
this  cross  of  1876. 

After  the  Sebright  Cochins  had  been  bred  some  years  by  several 
breeders  in  New  York,  Michigan  and  probably  in  other  states,  Mr. 
Payne,  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  advertised  his  fowls  in  the  Poultry 
World  in  1874-75.  In  1876  this  breed  was  presented  to  the 
American  Poultry  Association,  at  Buffalo,  for  admission  to  the 
Standard  under  the  name  American  Sebrights.  This  type  was 
from  a  cross  of  the  Silver  Spangled  Hamburg  and  Buff  Cochin. 
It  was  conceded  that  this  fowl  was  much  superior  in  type,  beauty 
and  usefulness  to  the  Sebright  Cochins,  while  other  parties  had 
been  at  work  to  obviate  the  faults  of  the  latter,  as  the  lacing  was  too 
light  and  too  indistinct  to^merit  being  called  laced.  Single  combs 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — HISTORY.  7 

appeared  with  rose  combs,  feathered  with  smooth  legs,  bluish  white 
with  red  earlobes,  and  blue  with  yellow  legs.  It  is  said  that  a  black 
fowl  of  the  Breda  breed  was  introduced  in  the  crossing  to  enrich  and 
give  permanency  to  the  lacing,  and  the  two  productions  being 
crossed,  formed  the  American  Sebrights. 

On  the  presentation  of  the  American  Sebrights,  the  American 
Poultry  Association  acknowledged  the  promising  merits  of  the  new 
breed,  but  objected  to  the  name  on  the  ground  that  it  was  suggestive 
of  Bantam.  They  knew,  too,  that  several  types  of  the  new  breed 
were  being  cultivated,  and  that  the  admirers  of  each  were  desirous 
of  giving  new  names.  A  new  cross  of  Silver  Spangled  Hamburg 
and  Dark  Brahma  now  appeared,  and  it  was  much  in  advance  of 
the  other  crosses  in  type  and  desirable  qualities,  although  it  possessed 
a  pea  comb.  One  party  earnestly  advocated  single  combs.  Mr. 
Whittaker  was  in  favor  of  rose  combs,  and  Mr.  Kidder  strongly 
pressed  the  advantages  of  a  pea  comb.  The  petition  was  so  far 
considered  that  Mr.  Payne  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee 
to  settle  on  a  name  and  standard  for  the  breed;  but  the  committee 
failed  to  make  a  report  and  the  American  Sebright  had  to  wait  till 
1883. 

Happily  the  delay  prompted  improvement,  and  the  product  of 
the  Hamburg  and  Dark  Brahma,  with  the  best  of  the  other  crosses, 
evolved  a  more  pleasing  plumage  and  type,  which  appeared  under 
the  name,  Eureka.  The  combination  of  the  two  original  crosses, 
with  the  last  named,  formed  a  desirable  breed;  and  from  that  time 
on  they  grew  in  popularity  and  their  sales  became  really  marvelous, 
though  advertised  as  American  Sebrights,  Excelsiors,  Eurekas,  Am- 
brights,  Columbias,  etc.  In  order  to  harmonize  and  settle  on  a  name, 
Mr.  I.  K.  Felch  suggested  the  name  Hambletonian  and  prepared  a 
standard,  which  was  the  basis  of  the  one  made  for  the  breed  at 
Worcester,  Mass.,  in  1883,  when  it  was  admitted  under  the  name, 
Wyandotte. 

Mr.  Fred.  A.  Houdlette,  of  Waltham,  Mass,  an  enthusiastic  fan- 
cier and  admirer  of  the  new  breed,  suggested  the  name  Wyandotte, 
after  a  tribe  of  Indians,  but  possibly  out  of  some  inspiring  recollec- 
tion of  his  father's  ship,  which  was  named  "  Wyandotte."  However, 
the  name  was  a  surprise,  and  the  pill  which  the  fanciers  of  the 
country  had  to  swallow  was  somewhat  disagreeable,  though  per- 
plexed and  confused  by  the  number  of  names  attached  to  the  breed. 

Doubtless,  much  of  the  enthusiast  and  excitement  over  the 
Silver  Wyandotte  was  due  to  the  little  booms  which  the  fanciers  of 


8  WYANDOTTES. 

the  different  crosses  tried  to  establish  on  the  appearance  of  their 
favorites.  Another  factor  of  their  popularity,  which  has  escaped 
public  attention,  is  the  trouble  and  perplexing  disappointments 
which  followed  the  breeding  of  Plymouth  Rocks  to  uniformity  of 
color  and  matching  in  the  show  pen.  The  Wyandotte  was  hailed 
as  a  relief  by  those  who  had  not  been  very  successful  with  the  other 
breed;  the  plumage  of  the  Wyandotte  being  unique,  their  size,  lay- 
ing and  table  qualities  being  much  in  their  favor,  they  soon  shared 
a  measure  of  the  popularity  lavished  on  the  Plymouth  Rocks. 

The  Wyandotte  met  a  hearty  welcome  in  every  stage  of  its 
transition.  American  fanciers  began  to  take  an  interest  in  new 
breeds  of  American  origin.  The  Plymouth  Rock  was  a  grand  suc- 
cess, although  its  color  is  much  against  it  as  an  ornamental  or  fancy 
breed;  the  Wyandotte,  on  the  contrary,  showed  promise  of  becoming 
a  handsome  fowl,  when  the  skill  of  the  fancier  had  brought  it  up  to 
standard  requirements.  Hundreds  engaged  in  the  breeding  of 
Wyandottes  before  the  breed  was  admitted  to  Standard  honors;  and 
so  enthusiastic  were  the  admirers  of  this  noble  breed  that  Messrs. 
Arnold  and  Houdlette  published  a  standard  for  the  breed  in  advance 
of  the  American  Poultry  Association. 

The  favorable  qualities  of  the  Silver  Wyandotte  have  come 
through  judicious  crossing  and  improvement  of  each  cross.  After 
the  first  experimental  cross,  there  was  no  haphazard  crossing  after- 
wards. The  Asiatic,  with  its  large  frame,  robust  constitution  and 
quiet  nature,  transmitted  these  desirable  merits  to  modify  the 
nervousness,  sprightliness  and  non-sitting  trait  of  the  Silver  Spangled 
Hamburg. ,  On  the  other  hand,  the  Hamburg  has  transmitted  a 
share  of  its  precocity  and  prolificacy,  besides  exterior  points.  The 
original  crosses  served  to  modify  the  Asiatic  characteristics,  and 
these,  combined  with  the  Hamburg-Brahma  cross,  established  the 
"  happy  medium  "_  now  characteristic  of  the  Wyandotte. 

The  original  combination  would  probably  create  a  very  good 
breed  in  time,  if  left  to  itself  and  the  skill  of  fanciers;  but  being 
reinforced  with  fresh  material  of  a  better  quality,  the  modification 
and  improvement  became  more  marked,  and  the  objectionable  points 
of  each  being  largely  bVed  out,  all  harmonized  in  one  grand  whole. 
It  is  almost  certain  thattthe  originator  had  a  laced  breed  in  mind, 
and  that  the  lacing  of  the  Sebright  Bantam  was  the  ideal  in  view, 
excepting  the  tail  and  hackles,  which  were  to  be  black  and  black 
laced  with  white.  However  magnificent  the  ideal,  few  birds  have 
appeared  in  late  years  thait  could  be  called  Sebright  laced. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — HISTORY.  9 

Some  writers  think  that  a  Silver  Polish  fowl  was  a  likely 
element  in  some  of  the  crosses,  but  there  is  not  the  slightest  founda- 
tion for  this  opinion,  because  some  of  the  points  of  the  various 
breeds  in  the  combination  have  appeared  at  one  time  or  another, 
but  no  crested  chick,  none  with  bifurcated  comb,  none  with  cavernous 
nostrils,  and  these  could  not  be  wholly  bred  out  in  so  short  a  time. 
If  some  advanced  fanciers  look  on  the  Silver  Polish  hen  as  the  ideal 
for  the  Wyandotte  hen,  in  lacing,  that  is  no  sign  Silver  Polish  had 
anything  to  do  with  the  plumage  of  the  Wyandotte.  Seeing  so  few 
hens  of  Sebright  lacing,  that  of  the  Silver  Polish  can  be  more  readily 
attained  by  adding  a  solid  black  tail  and  a  Dark  Brahma  hackle. 

It  is  useless  to  dwell  on  the  object  of  the  originator  of  Sebright 
Cochins.  We  hardly  think  he  had  a  variety  of  Cochins  in  view,  by 
using  a  Bantam,  and  it  is  doubtful  that  he  sought  to  make  a  Cochin 
Bantam,  because  he  ceased  further  reduction  of  size.  In  all  proba- 
bility a  medium-sized  fowl  was  the  ultimate  object,  but  the  white 
ground  color  and  black  lacing  of  the  Sebright  were  wanting;  the 
whole  plumage  presented  a  yellowish  cast,  being  rather  a  mass  of 
lacing,  penciling  and  mossing;  too  light  in  both  sexes  to  be  attractive 
and  pleasing. 

At  this  crisis  in  the  breed,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  fix  a  pre- 
ponderance of  black  without  changing  other  features,  in  order  to 
make  the  lacing  distinct.  The  black  fowl  of  Breda  blood,  mentioned 
by  Mr.  Felch,  offered  a  very  suitable  cross  on  account  of  its  flesh 
qualities  and  unique  comb,  but  the  addition  of  the  Brahma  cross 
left  the  breed  in  a  condition  which  would  favor  either  the  lightness 
of  the  Hamburg  plumage  or  that  of  a  dark  plumage  with  white 
centers,  as  the  partiality  of  fanciers  should  dictate.  Breeders  found 
much  penciling  and  mossing  in  place  of  clear  and  distinct  lacing  in 
the  light-plumaged  birds.  Mr.  Felch  always  advised  to  make  black 
the  preponderant  color,  as  the  tendency  of  the  breed  was  to  light 
plumage,  and  we  frequently  advised  the  same  thing. 

When  we  take  a  retrospective  view  of  the  Wyandotte,  we  are 
surprised  at  the  unprecedented  boom  it  had,  both  before  and  after 
its  being  admitted  to  the  Standard.  No  breed  up  to  that  time  had 
ever  been  in  such  demand;  perhaps  no  breed  will  ever  enjoy  such  a 
boom.  But,  with  its  popularity  was  created  a  greed  for  gain; 
wretched  specimens  were  put  on  the  market,  together  with  every 
speckled  fowl  having  a  rose  comb,  which  rapidly  lessened  their 
popularity.  A  few  far-seeing  fanciers  held  on  to  their  stock  and 
denounced  jobbers  and  unscrupulous  breeders  for  putting  on  the 


io  WYANDOTTES. 

market  such  fowl;  advised  cooperation  in  breeding  high-class  stand- 
ard birds  and  exposing  frauds.  This,  together  with  the  confidence 
of  their  admirers,  won  back  their  former  popularity,  and  now  it  is 
universally  conceded  that  it  rests  on  a  foundation  as  permanent  as 
the  everlasting  hills. 

GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

The  value  of  Wyandottes  rests  not  alone  on  their  comely 
appearance,  good  size  and  excellent  flesh  qualities,  but  also  on  their 
fairly  good  laying  merits  and  quiet  disposition.  By  common  con- 
sent, they  are  called  handsome;  both  male  and  female  claim  their 
respective  shares;  still,  the  peculiarity  of  their  lacing  and  penciling 
will  admit  of  greater  improvement  and  perfection  in  all  points. 
They  are  scored  too  high  at  present  by  all  judges,  perhaps  owing  to 
the  reason  that  there  is  no  ideal  standard  in  their  minds  to  which 
the  specimens  should  approach.  There  is  much  of  the  surface  of 
the  body,  thighs  and  rear  part  of  the  hen's  back  that  needs  improve- 
ment to  correspond  with  the  head,  neck  and  breast. 

There  is  no  question  regarding  their  usefulness,  as  that  is  con- 
ceded by  all  breeders  who  have  given  them  proper  attention  and 
compared  their  merits  with  other  breeds.  Indeed,  there  are  some 
well  meaning  fanciers  who  make  extravagant  assertions  of  their 
superiority  over  all  other  breeds.  Such  statements  must  be  taken 
with  many  grains  of  allowance,  as  they  are  not  equal  to  the  Dorking, 
Houdan  and  Game  in  quantity  and  quality  of  breast  meat,  and  not 
equal  to  the  Leghorn,  Minorca,  Hamburg  and  Red  Cap  in  egg  pro- 
duction; but  when  we  make  a  comparison  with  either  of  the  breeds 
named,  on  the  basis  of  general  usefulness,  that  is,  an  all-round, 
general-purpose  fowl,  fulfilling  the  desires  of  the  farmer,  cottager 
and  fancier,  the  Wyandotte  is  to  be  preferred. 

There  are  many  reasons  why  the  Wyandotte  is  so  popular  in 
this  country  and  Great  Britain,  though  possessing  scores  of  good 
breeds.  In  the  first  place,  the  lacing  is  unique;  the  size  and  weight 
is  the  most  desirable  for  market;  the  carcass  has  not  the  grossness, 
coarseness  of  flesh  and  heavy  bone  frame  of  the  Asiatic,  nor  the 
light  and  spare  body  of  the  small  varieties.  The  color  of  the  flesh 
is  much  in  their  favor,  as  the  majority  of  our  fowl  consumers  prefer 
yellow  skin  to  pale  color,  as  it  suggests  richness  of  meat.  Whether 
this  notion  of  color  in  the  flesh  of  breeds  adds  to  its  real  value  or 
not,  we  will  not  discuss;  so  long  as  people  hold  that  notion,  any- 
thing contrary  to  it  might  not  change  or  benefit  any  one.  If  the 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — CHARACTERISTICS.  n 

eye  is  satisfied  in  color  of  flesh,  it  is  very  likely  that  the  palate  will 
share  some  of  its  satisfaction.  However,  the  flesh  of  the  Wyandotte 
is  generally  praised  for  its  flavor  and  sweetness.  Of  course,  it  has 
not  been  tested  so  thoroughly  by  judges  as  that  of  the  Dorking, 
Houdan,  Langshan  and  Game;  but  all  fanciers  of  the  breed  accord 
in  pronouncing  it  a  splendid  table  fowl. 

Egg  production  is  a  very  valuable  quality  in  Wyandottes.  To 
be  sure,  every  experienced  breeder  knows  that  no  breed  of  fowls 
possesses  all  desirable  qualities.  A  breed  may  be  handsome  in 
plumage,  faultless  in  type  and  carriage,  and  an  excellent  layer;  but, 
if  we  desire  to  unite  splendid  table  qualities,  kind  disposition,  domestic 
habits  and  other  merits,  to  the  other  qualities,  some  of  the  former 
would  have  to  be  sacrificed.  We  can  get,  and  we  have  got,  all  these 
in  some  breeds,  but  they  are  not  highly  developed;  they  are  medi- 
ocre, and  they  do  not  excel  only  in  one  or,  at  most,  two  special 
qualities.  There  is  no  question  but  what  Leghorns,  Hamburgs 
and  Polish,  properly  cooked,  are  good  enough  for  a  royal  feast,  yet 
they  are  not  the  equal  of  the  Dorking  in  point  of  table  merits.  We 
are  speaking  of  prime  merits  here  ;  fowls  are  not  excepted  from  the 
general  laws  governing  animated  nature,  as  all  living  things  may 
possess  some  high  or  transcendent  quality  individually,  but  none 
possess  all  in  a  high  degree. 

The  Wyandotte,  although  not  excelling  in  any  special  quality, 
is  the  happy  possessor  of  an  even  and  well-balanced  organism,  which 
makes  it  preferable  to  the  majority  of  breeders  over  breeds  excelling 
in  some  points  and  deficient  in  others.  It  is  the  equalization  of 
useful  qualities  in  the  Wyandotte  which  makes  it  so  popular  ;  there 
is  no  excess  of  one  quality  at  the  expense  of  the  other ;  a  "  happy 
medium  "  is  established,  and  that  goes  to  guarantee  a  higher  improve- 
ment in  all,  with  time  and  skill.  None  of  our  standard  breeds  has  so 
many  different  elements  in  its  make-up,  and  to  these  may  be  attrib- 
uted the  medium  qualities  which  the  whole  family  possess,  as  there 
is  a  check  on  any  characteristic  exceeding  due  bounds,  so  to  say,  by 
opposite  characteristics  of  one  or  more  of  the  composite  stock. 

The  type  and  plumage  of  the  Silver  Wyandotte  are  much  in 
their  favor.  The  type  approaches  that  of  the  Dark  Brahma  in  a 
modified  way.  This,  we  believe,  was  the  one  most  in  favor  by  the 
leading  breeders  and  judges,  as  it  would  not  be  judicious  to  trench 
on  that  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  or  Java.  Type  is  an  accepted  index 
of  distinction  in  breeds.  Originally,  it  was  a  short  step  between 
the  Brahma  and  Cochin,  the  Plymouth  Rock  and  the  Java,  but  the 


12  WYANDOTTES. 

object  of  breeders  is  to  give  each  breed  a  distinctive  type.  One  can 
see  in  the  Wyandotte  the  bold,  erect  form  of  the  Brahma,  especially 
in  the  male  ;  the  high  rump  and  tail,  the  full  neck,  the  face,  the  fluff 
and  heavy  stern;  also  the  shank,  although  featherless,  is  the  limb  of 
the  Brahma,  as  also  is  the  beak — indeed,  the  general  structure  is  that 
of  the  Brahma,  with  just  such  modifications  as  the  Hamburg  cross 
would  give. 

The  primary  object  with  this  breed,  as  stated  before,  is  to  obtain 
a  well-made,  compact  and  blocky  bodied,  clean-legged  fowl,  of  as 
large  a  size  as  is  considered  suitable,  clad  in  the  garb  of  the  Silver 
Sebright;  that  is,  as  near  as  can  be  obtained  in  most  features  except 
tail,  which  is  black,  or  should  be  so  ;  but  a  great  many  cock  birds 
have  their  primary  sickles  edged  with  white,  and  the  edged  sickles 
are  invariably  accompanied  with  clear  markings  on  rump,  as  opposed 
to  sooty  or  rusty  saddle  and  entirely  black  sickles. 

The  comb,  being  a  low  rose,  admirably  fitted  for  our  cold  winters, 
is  a  valuable  feature  in  the  breed.  In  good  specimens,  it  is  narrow, 
and  partaking  of  the  curve  of  head.  It  is  hard  to  get  a  good  comb, 
and  considerable  deviation  is  seen  in  a  lot  of  cockerels — in  one  you 
can  see  a  shapeless,  wide  comb,  in  others  the  Hamburg  spike  and 
more  coroneted  comb  ;  but  the  narrow  and  close-fitting  comb,  curved 
with  shape  of  head,  is  the  desired  object. 

As  sitters  and  mothers,  the  Wyandotte  hens  will  perform  their 
duties  faithfully.  They  are  steady  sitters,  and  very  few  will  desert 
their  nests  after  the  work  of  incubation  begins.  They  are  not  quite 
as  industrious  foragers  and  scratchers  as  the  Game  and  common 
hens,  but,  otherwise,  they  are  kind  mothers  They  are  not  so  rest- 
less and  nervous  as  the  small  hens,  and,  having  a  strong  dash  of 
Asiatic  blood,  they  do  not  lead  the  young  far  away,  nor  exert  them- 
selves in  diligent  search  for  food.  There  is  a  quiet  and  contented 
feeling  in  their  nature,  which  insures  confidence  in  the  young,  though 
they  may  be  from  a  restless  and  shy  breed.  This  is  of  small  import, 
as  the  majority  of  fanciers  now  coop  the  mother  hens. 

The  Wyandotte  is  unquestionably  a  splendid  breed  and  holds 
first  rank  among  American  fowls.  It  is  a  breed  that  commends 
itself  in  various  ways,  utility  and  beauty  being  two  of  its  chief  recom- 
mendations— two  good  qualities  in  combination;  essential  properties 
which  no  real  fancier  is  disposed  to  ignore,  nor  which,  indeed,  in  the 
interests  and  progress  of  poultry  culture,  should  be  overlooked  or 
underrated. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — DESCRIPTION.  13 

DESCRIPTION. 

THE  MALE. 

HEAD. — This  section  is  independent  of  comb,  ear-lobes  and 
wattles.  It  is  the  part  which  embraces  beak,  arch  and  crown; 
these  give  a  definite  shape  to  the  head.  The  configuration  is  de- 
cidedly Cochinish,  with  just  such  modification  as  to  relieve  it  of  the 
heavy  eyebrows  of  the  Cochin;  but  still  it  shows  a  beetling  brow, 
which  is  also  noticeable  in  the  female. 

BEAK. — This  does  not  differ  from  Asiatics  or  Plymouth  Rocks 
in  form.  It  is  yellow,  with  a  heavy  stripe  of  dark  horn  color 
shading  the  upper  mandible,  the  yellow  showing  on  the  point  and 
lower  edges. 

FACE. — This  is  a  deep  red  color,  rather  than  bright.  The 
eyes  are  bay;  ear-lobes  red,  well  developed  and  folding  where 
they  curve;  comb  is  bright  red,  rose  in  form,  being  low  and  flat, 
somewhat  narrower  at  the  base  than  top,  with  less  prominence  of 
spike  than  that  of  the  Hamburg — the  comb  following  the  curve  of 
crown  to  back  of  head,  and  the  surface  evenly  corrugated;  wattles 
are  bright  red,  medium  size,  and1  hang  below  a  line  with  ear-lobes; 
plumage  is  smooth,  short  and  silvery-white  in  color. 

NECK. — This  is  short,  well  arched,  and  abundantly  supplied 
with  hackle;  the  plumage  of  hackle  is  silvery-white,  heavily  striped 
with  black  down  the  center  of  each  feather,  and  tapering  to  a  point 
at  the  extremity.  A  good  Dark  Brahma  hackle  is  the  ideal  to  attain. 
The  silver  edging  should  be  free  from  smut  or  black  lacing — a  com- 
mon, and,  I  might  say,  a  general  fault,  is  the  outer  edge  of  the  lac- 
ing near  the  point  being  penciled  with  black. 

BACK. — This  should  be  short  and  broad,  and  appear  flat  across 
the  shoulders;  the  plumage  is  silvery-white  on  surface,  and  should 
be  free  from  brown;  under-color  is  slate,  but  the  webs  are  frequently 
tinged  with  straw-color,  and  difficult  to  breed  out;  saddle  is  full  and 
broad,  and  preserves  a  concave  sweep  from  back  to  tail;  plumage 
is  silvery- white,  with  a  black  stripe  running  through  the  center  of 
the  feathers,  same  as  in  hackle. 

BREAST. — This  should  be  deep  and  round;  under-color  of 
plumage  slate,  web  of  feathers  black  with  medium-sized  white 
centers,  which  taper  to  a  point  near  the  extremity,  the  white  in- 
creasing in  size  with  the  prominence  of  breast. 

BODY. — This  should  be  short  and  deep  and  suggestive  of  being 
blocky  in  appearance;  the  under-color  of  plumage  is  slate,  and  the 


14  WYANDOTTES. 

web  of  feathers  black,  or  black  slightly  frosted  with  white;  fluff 
full  at  the  sides  and  posterior,  which  gives  the  bird  a  heavy  appear- 
ance; plumage  is  dark  slate,  powdered  with  gray. 

WINGS. — This  section  should  be  medium  in  size;  the  primaries 
black,  with  outer  web  edged  with  white;  secondaries  black,  with 
outer  half  of  lower  web  white;  wing  coverts,  upper  web  black,  lower 
web  with  a  narrow  black  stripe  along  the  edge,  which  widens  toward 
the  tip  and  forms  a  double  bar  across  the  wing;  wing-bows  are  sil- 
very-white, and  the  shoulder  coverts  have  slate  under-color  and  the 
web  white. 

TAIL. — This  is  full,  medium  length,  well  spread  at  the  base  and 
well  filled  in  with  black,  curling  feathers;  sickles  are  of  medium 
length,  nicely  curved  and  glossy  black  in  color;  tail  coverts  are 
glossy  black,  and  the  lesser  coverts  are  black,  or  black  with  an  edg- 
ing of  white,  following  the  color  of  saddle. 

LEGS. — These  should  be  medium  short,  stout  and  well  set 
apart;  the  thighs  covered  with  soft  feathers,  color  black  or  black 
powdered  with  gray;  shanks  rather  short  and  stout,  free  from  feath- 
ers, and  in  color  bright  yellow;  toes  straight  and  well  spread,  and 
same  color  as  shanks. 

STANDARD  WEIGHT. — Cocks  eight  and  a  half  pounds,  cockerels 
seven  and  a  half  pounds. 

THE  FEMALE. 

HEAD. — The  configuration  of  head  is  the  same  as  that  of  the 
male,  but  smaller,  and  the  heavy  brow  is  more  modified. 

BEAK. — This  is  in  form,  color  and  shade  same  as  in  the  male. 

FACE. — This  is  a  deep  red  color;  the  eyes  are  bay;  ear-lobes 
red,  well  developed  and  folding  where  they  curve;  comb  is  bright 
red,  rose  in  form,  being  low  and  flat,  smaller  than  that  of  the  male, 
and  following  the  curve  of  crown  and  back  of  neck,  the  surface 
evenly  corrugated;  wattles  are  bright  red,  medium  size  and  hang 
below  a  line  with  earlobes;  plumage  is  silver-gray. 

NECK. — This  is  short,  well  arched  and  abundantly  supplied 
with  hackle  feathers;  the  plumage  is  silvery- white,  with  a  black 
stripe  through  the  center  of  each  feather,  and  tapering  to  a  point 
at  the  extremity. 

BACK. — This  should  be  broad  and  short  and  appear  flat  at  the 
shoulders,  and  slightly  cushioned;  the  plumage  has  small  white 
centers,  and  free  from  outside  white  lacing;  under-color  dark  slate, 
and  web  black. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — REMARKS.  15 

BREAST. — This  should  be  full  and  round;  under-color  slate, 
web  of  feather  white,  and  each  feather  distinctly  and  evenly  laced 
with  black,  the  white  increasing  in  size  with  the  prominence  of 
breast. 

BODY. — This  is  short,  deep  and  round  at  the  sides;  the  under- 
color is  slate,  web  of  feather  black,  with  a  narrow  white  center 
running  into  black,  or  black  frosted  with  white,  along  the  thighs. 
The  body  is  too  short;  a  longer  one  would  indicate  greater  value  in 
the  line  of  egg-production.  The  fluff  is  full,  and  gives  a  heavy 
appearance  to  the  posterior;  color  of  plumage  is  dark  slate,  pow- 
dered with  gray. 

WINGS. — These  are  medium  size;  the  primaries  are  black,  with 
lower  web  edged  with  white;  secondaries  black,  with  the  outer  half 
of  the  lower  web  white;  wing  and  shoulder  coverts  are  dark  slate  in 
under-color,  the  web  white  and  heavily  laced  with  black,  the  black 
lacing  growing  wider  over  the  wing-bow. 

TAIL. — This  is  full  and  well  spread  at  base;  the  color  is  black; 
the  greater  coverts  black;  lesser  coverts  black,  or  black  with  white 
centers,  though  usually  slightly  penciled  with  white. 

LEGS. — These  should  be  medium  short,  stout  and  well  set 
apart,  the  thighs  covered  with  soft  feathers,  color  black  or  black 
powdered  with  gray;  shanks  rather  short  and  stout,  free  from  feath- 
ers, and  in  color  bright  yellow;  toes  straight  and  well  spread,  and 
same  color  as  shanks. 

STANDARD  WEIGHT. — Hens  six  and  a  half  pounds,  pullets  five 
and  a  half  pounds. 

REMARKS. 

We  have  adhered  quite  closely  to  Standard  description  in  the 
above,  without  using  the  same  words,  and,  for  all  practical  purposes, 
it  will  aid  the  novice  in  committing  to  memory  the  standard  re- 
quirements of  the  breed  under  consideration,  until  such  time  as  he 
finds  it  necessary  to  mate,  judge  and  prepare  birds  for  exhibition  and 
sale,  when  a  "  Standard  of  Perfection  "  will  be  indispensible,  so  as 
to  have  an  authoritative  work  to  guide  him,  not  only  in  the  culture 
of  Silver  Wyandottes,  but  also  in  all  other  recognized  breeds. 

One  cannot,  however,  glean  from  the  Standard  an  ideal  of  the 
breed  it  describes.  The  facial  appendages,  color  and  marking  of 
plumage,  legs,  and,  in  fact,  all  points,  are  described  quite  minutely, 
but  the  type  of  the  breed  no  words  can  express  sufficiently  clear  to 
give  a  correct  ideal.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  Silver  Wyandottes. 


1 6  WYANDOTTES. 

The  white  variety,  however,  is  in  better  luck,  since  the  White  Wyan- 
dotte  Club  has  accepted  old  "Silver  King  "as  the  type  for  White 
Wyandottes,  as  this  bird  was  pronounced  by  judges  and  breeders  as 
the  best  representative  of  the  race  which  has  ever  come  before  the 
people. 

The  Silver  Wyandotte  was  given  its  present  type  because  it 
did  not  trench  on  that  of  the  Plymouth  Rock,  Java,  Dorking  or 
other  middle-sized  breeds.  The  combination  of  Hamburgs  and 
Dark  Brahmas  brought  out  its  present  type  very  nearly,  and  this 
was  considered  the  best  from  the  early  crosses.  It  is,  therefore,  a 
modification  of  the  American  Dark  Brahma  type,  with  such  toning 
as  we  might  expect  from  the  Hamburg.  The  Standard  is  pretty 
clear  in  most  everything  else,  but  the  shape  it  cannot  describe  with 
sufficient  clearness  to  enable  one  to  form  a  correct  idea,  or  the 
judge  who  depends  solely  on  it.  Judges  may  say,  standard-makers 
may  say,  the  Silver  should  approach  the  Dark  Brahma  in  shape. 
This  is  not  very  clear,  as  some  Dark  Brahmas  partake  of  a  shape 
between  the  Cochin  and  the  Light  Brahma,  particularly  English- 
bred  birds.  The  Silver  Wyandotte  male,  in  type  and  carriage,  more 
closely  resembles  the  Brahma,  but,  of  course,  of  a  decidedly  refined 
nature,  being  sleeker  and  smarter,  with  a  more  clean-cut  make  up; 
the  female,  however,  does  not  closely  resemble  the  Dark  Brahma 
hen,  and,  therefore,  there  is  no  true  ideal  to  breed  to. 

There  is  much  improvement  going  on  with  regard  to  shape  and 
size  of  comb.  Some  English,  as  well  as  American,  fanciers,  have 
urged  the  adoption  of  the  Hamburg  comb;  but  such  a  comb  would 
be  unsuitable  for  a  large  breed,  and  for  one  with  a  small  and  flat 
skull.  The  form  of  comb  now  seen  on  first-class  specimens,  and  as 
delineated  in  our  chromo  illustration,  is  fairly  good,  if  breeders  will 
avoid  breeding  wide  combs,  which  spread  over  the  skull.  We  are 
no  more  justified  in  breeding  a  Hamburg  comb  than  a  pea  comb, 
and  it  is  better,  for  many  reasons,  that  the  breed  should  not  follow 
either,  but  add  enough  of  the  Hamburg  to  the  pea  comb  to  make  a 
neat,  low  rose,  with  a  gentle  curve  from  the  nostrils  to  the  back 
of  head. 

The  novice  will  notice,  when  reading  the  Standard,  the  frequent 
use  of  the  word  "  medium,"  in  describing  length,  width  and  size.  This 
is  to  be  understood  as  meaning  "  mean  "  or  middle  state — between 
large  and  small,  long  and  short.  When  understood,  its  use  does 
away  with  much  verbosity,  and  that  is  the  only  point  in  its  favor. 
Although  the  Standard  fairly  well  describes  the  Silver  Wyandotte, 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — MATING.  17 

still,  there  is  some  ambiguity  in  the  description  of  white  centers  and 
extent  of  lacing  on  different  parts  of  the  plumage.  One  cannot 
judge  correctly  by  the  cuts  which  appear  in  poultry  publications,  as 
the  plumage  is  made  darker  than  it  really  is  in  the  living  specimen. 
There  are  some  other  questions  which  we  will  take  up  in  the 
chapter  on  Mating  and  Judging,  as  we  have  transcended  our  limit 
in  these  remarks.  The  Standard,  before  the  last  revision,  allowed 
breeders  to  sell  birds  with  penciled  feathers,  and,  while  the  same 
thing  is  being  done  nowadays,  the  Standard  is  clear  on  this  point; 
we  must  have  a  black-and-white  laced  breed,  with  colors  evenly 
divided,  and  no  penciling. 

STANDARD  DISQUALIFICATIONS. 

Any  feathers  on  shanks  or  toes;  permanent  white  or  yellow  in 
the  ear-lobes,  covering  more  than  one-third  of  their  surface;  combs 
other  than  rose,  or  falling  over  to  one  side,  or  so  large  as  to  obstruct 
the  sight;  decidedly  wry  tails;  deformed  beaks;  crooked  backs; 
shanks  other  than  yellow  in  color,  except  in  hens,  which  may  shade 
to  light  straw  color;  solid  white  breasts. 

SCALE  OF  POINTS  FOR  WYANDOTTES. 

Symmetry 8 

Weight 6 

Condition 6 

Head — Shape  3,  Color  3 6 

Comb 8 

Wattles  and  Ear-lobes 6 

Neck — Shape  4,  Color  6 10 

Back — Shape  4,  color  4 8 

Breast — Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Body  and  Fluff — Shape  5,  Color  3 8 

Wings — Shape  4,  Color  4 8 

Tail — Shape,  4,  Color  4 8 

Legs  and  Toes 8 

100 
MATING   SILVER   WYANDOTTES. 

Mating  fowls  of  any  breed  is  the  most  important  part  of  poul- 
try culture.  This  cannot  be  questioned,  and  it  should  be  remem- 
bered by  every  person  keeping  fowls.  A  good  cock  or  cockerel  to 
head  a  pen  is  valuable.  On  his  vitality,  virility,  natural  force  and 


1 8  WYANDOTTES. 

power  of  stamping  his  good  qualities  on  .his  offspring,  depends  his 
value.  The  prime  breeding  male  will  not  only  show  a  well  balanced 
organism,  which  will  make  him  handsome,  with  a  full  development 
of  physical  qualities,  but  he  will  also  be  combative,  ambitious  of 
mastery,  attentive  to  his  harem,  quick,  amorous,  and  in  good  condi- 
tion of  health  and  plumage;  the  last  is  indicated  by  his  bright  and 
fearless  eye,  rich  red  comb  and  wattles,  sleek  and  glossy  plumage, 
and  sprightly  movements. 

A  male  with  stilted  legs  will  not  make  a  good  breeder,  nor  the 
one  with  hock  joints  pressing  inward  or  backward,  nor  the  one  with 
joints  lacking  firmness,  nor  the  one  with  legs  close  together,  or 
crooked,  nor  the  one  with  slim  thighs,  as  they  denote  an  uneven 
formation  of  structure — an  imperfect  balancement  of  limbs.  Avoid 
a  bird  with  narrow  breast  and  back,  for  such  a  male  lacks  muscle, 
and  has  not  sufficient  room  for  development  and  healthy  action  of 
the  vital  organs;  avoid  the  one  with  slow  motion  and  of  cowardly 
nature;  one  with  loose  plumage,  scant  hackle,  saddle  and  tail,  and 
the  one  that  is  too  large,  too  fat  and  too  clumsy,  as  it  will  fail  in 
sexual  duties. 

This  is  no  guess  work,  but  is  based  on  experience  and  study  of 
the  laws  of  breeding.  A  clumsy  or  over-fat  male  is  not  to  be 
depended  on.  Obesity  is  ever  antagonistic  to  fertility,  as  it  really 
impairs  the  functions  which  inclose  and  transmit  the  vital  spark  of 
procreation.  The  greater  number  of  the  large-sized  breeds,  fattened 
to  reach  standard  wei  ghts,  are  not  in  proper  condition  for  breed- 
ing while  retaining  superfluous  fat.  This  is  one  of  the  chief  causes 
of  complaint  about  non-hatching  eggs.  The  male  or  female  should 
be  in  fairly  good  condition  of  flesh,  without  being  fat.  The  best 
breeders  are  those  under  standard  weights;  the  male  or  female  that 
will  reach  within  a  pound  or  so  of  standard  requirement,  without 
extra  feeding,  is  far  preferable  for  breeding  to  one  forced  to  stand- 
ard weight  by  special  feeding. 

As  a  rule  a  good  breeding  male  will  be  a  frequent  and  vigorous 
crower;  will  talk  with  his  mates  a  good  deal;  will  lead  them  into  the 
by-ways  and  "pastures  new;"  stopping  at  times  to  perform  a 
pirouette,  with  the  wing  lowered,  and  making  a  rasping  noise  against 
his  leg.  He  will  stand  at  the  head  of  his  flock,  always  exercising 
proper  activity  and  vigilance.  Such  a  male  is  competent  to  mate 
with  six  or  eight  hens.  Chickens  from  such  a  mating  will  be  apt  to 
take  after  their  sire;  and  fortunate  for  the  breeder,  if  he  has  de- 
scended from  a  long  line  of  good  layers. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — MATING.  19 

Another  important  point  to  bear  in  mind  is  the  evil  of  continued 
in-and-in  breeding.  The  majority  of  old  fanciers  know  its  bad  effects, 
and  seldom  venture  too  far.  On  this  point,  all  practical  stock  breed- 
ers, as  well  as  the  medical  faculty,  agree,  that  the  ultimate  tendency  of 
breeding  in-and-in  is  highly  injurious;  that  when  carried  to  excess 
it  will  always  result  in  a  loss  of  constitutional  vigor  and  hardiness 
in  the  offspring,  if  not  to  the  verge  of  sterility  and  impotency;  that 
while  its  tendency  may  be  in  the  direction  of  fineness  of  texture, 
lightness  of  bone,  smoothness  of  plumage  and  limbs,  neatness  and 
uniformity  of  parts,  it  is  invariably  at  the  expense  of  stamina,  robust- 
ness, strength  and  prepotent  power.  These  things  do  not  occur  to 
the  novice  when  he  embarks  in  poultry  culture;  perhaps  he  does 
not  give  it  a  thought.  He  may  be  willing  to  abide  by  the  apparent 
improvement  which  in-breeding  stamps  upon  its  issue,  but  he  may 
not  take  into  consideration  that  that  improvement  is  wisely  "  im- 
proving his  stock  off  the  face  of  the  earth,"  to  make  room  for  a 
more  vigorous  and  hardier  race. 

Breeders  are  prone  to  place  too  much  reliance  on  the  male,  and 
apt  to  overlook  or  entirely  ignore  requisite  qualities  in  the  female. 
It  puzzles  us  to  know  by  what  art  or  course  of  breeding,  either  in 
oviparous  or  mammiferous  animals,  the  male  is  so  vastly  superior  to 
the  female,  in  its  part  of  stamping  high  and  desirable  merits.  Sci- 
ence will  refuse  its  assent  to  this  unphilosophic  hypothesis.  Every 
day  we  hear  some  writer  exclaim,  "  The  cock  is  half  the  pen."  He 
believes  it;  he  has  a  right  to  his  opinion;  he  formed  it  while  breed- 
ing fowls,  or  has  accepted  it  as  gospel  truth,  because  somebody 
else  had  said  it,  in  whose  judgment  he  places  great  reliance. 

Our  study  of  the  laws  of  breeding  leads  us  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  female  contributes  more  elements  of  organism  and  internal 
structure  than  the  male.  The  male  gives  the  "  spark  of  life  "  to  the 
inert  procreated  mass;  that  is,  its  potency,  spirit,  life  and  complex- 
ion; the  latter  only  when  he  is  more  potent  in  this  quality,  which 
is  usually  noticed  in  crosses;  stamping  his  own  color,  complexion 
and  leading  characteristics  with  a  hen  of  his  breed  is  no  sign  of 
potency,  because  the  hen  would  have  given  the  color  and  features, 
and  leading  characteristics,  to  tr;e  male  progeny,  with  another  male 
of  the  same  strain  or  variety,  though  perhaps  in  a  less  marked 
degree.  If  the  cock  is  half  the  pen,  then,  there  would  be  no  neces- 
sity to  select  females  with  color,  penciling,  lacing,  or  facial  append- 
ages to  modify  or  intensify  points  in  the  male,  as  is  done  in  every 
carefully  made  pen,  as  he  would  stamp  all  individual  points  regard- 


20  WYANDOTTES. 

less  of  the  controlling  influence  of  the  females.  The  male  does  no 
such  thing,  and  it  cannot  be  reasonably  expected  of  him,  as  a  higher 
power  has  decreed  that  the  male  and  female,  of  all  organic  things, 
shall  unite  and  share  in  producing  an  offspring  like  unto  themselves 
or  a  controlling  ancestor. 

Far  be  it  from  us  to  underrate  the  value  of  a  male  bird  in  the 
pen,  but  we  cannot  accept  and  indorse  the  current  opinion  among 
fanciers,  that  all  or  nearly  all  of  the  high  and  distinguishing  qualities 
of  the  offspring  are  due  to  the  male.  We  have  already  transcended 
the  limit  of  space  intended  for  the  subject  of  mating,  but  as  the 
whole  season's  success  or  failure  depends  on  the  breeding  pen,  the 
suggestions  may  be  beneficial  to  breeders,  if  they  will  bear  them  in 
mind  and  scrupulously  observe  them  when  making  up  their  breed- 
ing pens.  The  suggestions  offered  here  will  apply  to  all  other  Wyan- 
dotte  varieties,  and  save  us  making  special  remarks  on  the  breeding 
fowls;  color  being  the  only  exception,  In  fact,  our  remarks  will  also 
apply  to  every  standard  or  non-standard  variety. 

SPECIAL  MATING. — The  breeder  should  bear  in  mind  that  Silver 
and  Golden  Wyandottes  lose  color  by  age  and  breeding,  if  no  selec- 
tion be  made  annually.  The  Silvers  have  shown  a  tendency  to  light- 
ness of  plumage  from  the  beginning;  so  the  amateur  fancier  is  fore- 
warned in  time.  Pullets  nicely  marked  will,  in  the  second  or  third 
year,  moult  lighter,  and  there  is  no  other  way  of  securing  color  in 
the  breed  than  by  mating  either  male  or  female  a  little  darker  in 
plumage  than  is  described  in  the  Standard. 

The  novice  may  be  puzzled  to  account  for  this  mode  of  mating 
and  ask,  "  Why  not  mate  standard  birds  together  for  the  production 
of  a  standard  offspring?"  The  breed  has  not  been  bred  long 
enough  to  establish  a  line  of  standard  birds  for  breeding;  and  being 
made  up  of  crosses,  each  color  struggling  for  mastery  or  controlling 
influence,  special  matings  will  have  to  be  followed  in  the  majority 
of  cases,  and  two  breeding  pens,  for  the  production  of  cockerels  and 
pullets,  have  already  been  adopted  by  some  fanciers. 

If  one  could  secure  standard  birds,  one  pen  mating  would  suf- 
fice. Some  years  ago  Plymouth  Rock  breeders  were  troubled  in 
the  same  way,  and  many  had  recourse  to  two  pens  to  produce 
standard  cockerels  and  pullets.  The  novice  must  not  be  led  by  the 
cuts  which  he  sees  in  poultry  journals,  to  think  that  the  plumage  is  as 
dark  in  the  living  specimens  as  it  is  represented  in  the  illustrations. 

The  proper  rule  to  follow  in  breeding  Silver  and  Golden  Wyan- 
dottes, is  to  establish  a  line  of  standard  breeders  as  soon  as  possible 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — MATING.  21 

and  give  up  the  special  mating.  With  the  Silver  Wyandottes  one 
learns  that  the  male  should  have  density  of  color;  or  in  other  words, 
be  darker  than  the  Standard  demands,  because  the  male  has  more 
controlling  power  in  color  than  the  female;  one  with  a  light  breast 
should  not  be  used,  except  there  is  no  alternative  in  the  matter,  and 
such  a  bird  ought  to  be  mated  with  hens  quite  dark  and  showing 
small  white  centers. 

To  establish  a  line  of  breeders  one  must  begin  with  a  dark  male, 
even  if  he  has  a  dark  breast  to  the  extent  of  appearing  black  when 
viewed  in  front,  if  other  points  are  desirable;  select  a  cock  between 
seven  and  a  half  and  eight  pounds,  with  good  limbs,  stout,  short  and 
set  well  apart;  nice  head  with  a  broad  crown;  comb,  wattles,  neck, 
back,  body,  fluff,  wings  and  tail  of  desirable  quality  and  as  near 
standard  requirements  as  can  be  had.  Right  here  we  will  add,  it  is 
color  that  is  the  real  object  of  this  mating,  and  if  the  black  stripe 
on  the  hackle  is  broad  and  dense,  or  if  the  black  runs  along  the 
sides  of  the  white,  do  not  discard  him  on  that  account;  or  if  the 
silvery  white  on  head,  back,  saddle  and  wing  bows,  be  plain  silver, 
though  faulty,  still  it  will  serve  its  purpose  here. 

The  breast,  body  and  thighs  must  be  darker  than  the  standard 
requirements.  The  breast  should  be  dark,  if  not  quite  black,  at  the 
throat,  the  white  points  merely  visible  in  the  center  as  it  merges  to 
the  body,  but  when  ruffled  or  parted  will  show  narrow  white  centers, 
growing  larger  as  it  approaches  the  body;  the  body  and  thighs  quite 
dark,  and  fluff  dark  slate. 

Such  a  male  is  darker  than  standard  requirements,  and  this  is 
needed  to  give  color  to  the  offspring,  not  for  one  season,  but  for 
establishing  a  permanent  line  of  breeders.  The  hens  mated  with 
this  male  should  be  medium  light,  lighter  than  standard  hens,  if 
they  show  a  good  hackle,  and  white  centers  on  wing  bows,  free  from 
black  penciling.  Hens  that  have  been  near  standard  color  when 
pullets,  and  become  light  after  moulting,  make  suitable  mates.  Do 
not  discard  them  if  they  show  open  centers,  even  to  spangling  on 
breast — open  white  centers  on  saddle,  and  show  light  in  fluff  and 
tail,  and  be  what  is  called  light  specimens  in  color,  if  other  points 
are  desirable. 

This  mating  transfers,  compensates  and  modifies,  because  it  is 
extreme  mating  and  seldom  resorted  to,  except  in  new  breeds  that 
have  other  elements  in  their  composition,  and  not  bred  long  enough 
in  a  direct  line,  to  have  established  permanency  in  colors.  If  stand- 
ard females  were  mated  to  the  male  in  question,  the  female  offspring 


22  WYANDOTTES. 

would  be  too  dark;  but  in  this  you  will  have  cockerels  that  will  in- 
tensify the  color  of  light  pullets,  darker  than  the  dams,  by  selecting 
one  like  the  sire.  The  pullets  mated  to  their  sire,  and  the  dams  to 
one  of  the  cockerels,  like  the  sire,  the  pullets  of  each  mating  the 
third  year  will  be  the  ones  to  select  for  the  breeding  pen,  as  they 
will  have  prime  color,  and  will  fall  but  little  short  of  standard  require- 
ments; and  the  cockerels,  the  product  of  the  old  sire  and  the  pullets, 
should  be  at  the  head  of  the  pens.  Mr.  Felch  recommends  a  similar 
course  of  mating  in  the  start  to  secure  a  line  of  breeders,  and  is  in 
substance  somewhat  like  the  one  we  have  suggested. 

MATING  No.  i. — We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Felch  for  the  follow- 
ing: "  A  male,  like  our  original  described  sire  (the  one  Mr.  Felch 
has  reference  to,  is  described  by  him  too  fully  to  repeat  here,  but  in 
substance  that  sire  does  not  differ  much  from  the  one  we  have  com- 
mended), except  that  the  breast  be  black,  with  small  white  centers, 
thighs  stone  color,  with  fluff  dark  stone  color,  approaching  black. 

u  Mate  pullets  weighing  full  five  and  three-quarters  to  six 
pounds,  full  breasts,  plumage  of  same  fully  laced,  yet  the  white  cen- 
ter of  good  size,  and  to  grow  smaller  in  the  plumage  and  the  black 
lacing  wider  as  it  approaches  the  tail,  when  it  merges  into  a  full 
black  tail  and  stone  colored  fluff,  with  thighs  nearly  black,  beak  and 
shanks  yellow,  comb  as  described  in  the  ancestor's.  This  mating 
to  produce  one  line  of  sires,  and  no  sire  should  be  used  from  any 
other  mating,  if  we  hope  to  see  this  breed  reach  that  accuracy  and 
uniformity  of  breeding  we  see  in  Light  Brahmas. 

"  MATING  No.  2. — A  male  that  has  the  form  of  structure  consist- 
ent with  standard  requirement,  and  good  clear  color,  save,  I  care 
not  how  black  he  be  in  breast,  wing  bar  and  tail,  with  dark  stone 
colored  fluff.  With  such  a  mate  the  pullets  that  look  well  from  a 
distance,  but  show  breast  off  in  color,  the  lacing  having  crescents, 
the  white  in  the  middle  of  web  of  feather  reaching  the  outer  edge, 
with  wide  white  center,  penciled  in  the  cushion  plumage,  and  hav- 
ing light  colored  fluff  and  legs.  (Mr.  Felch  uses  the  word  stone 
color  frequently,  and  it  is  intended  to  convey  to  the  mind  a  certain 
shade  of  blue-black,  like  the  bars  on  Plymouth  Rocks.) 

"  MATING  No.  3. — Cockerel  having  a  pure  silver  colored  lacing 
and  neck,  back  nearly  white,  silver- white  laced  breast,  with  wide 
center,  gray  thighs  and  breast,  wing  bars,  if  possible,  with  the  color 
described,  gray  fluff,  tail  black,  beak  and  legs  yellow. 

"  Females  with  dark  heads  and  beaks  and  dark  hackles,  back  and 
cushion  nearly  black,  heavy  laced  breast,  body  and  thighs,  and  fluff 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — MATING.  23 

black.  Males  from  such  a  mating  should  be  killed  as  broilers.  The 
standard  colored  pullets  from  such  a  mating  will  make  good  mates 
for  standard-described  male  for  mating  No.  i." 

The  best  mating,  all  things  considered,  is  medium  colored 
females  and  the  male  showing  small  white  centers,  one  that  is  called 
a  dark  cockerel.  There  will  be  enough  of  color  in  him  to  give  the 
female  offspring  standard  color,  and  the  males  will  be  just  right  for 
breeding.  We  have  placed  much  stress  on  color,  because  the  lacing 
should  be  metallic  black.  Endeavor  to  breed  out  penciling,  if  it 
appears.  If  the  color  is  secured  in  both  sexes,  one  has  achieved  the 
most  valuable  and  important  point;  coarse  and  wide  combs,  and  the 
absence  of  the  double  wing-bar,  may  be  the  next  effort  to  improve. 

GENERAL  MATING. — This  is  to  be  considered  in  its  proper 
sense,  for  we  cannot  be  too  careful  in  the  selection  of  our  sires  and 
dams.  Do  not,  if  you  can  possibly  avoid  it,  mate  light  colored 
males;  their  offspring  cannot  be  trusted,  though  with  certain  mat- 
ings  they  may  be  standard;  a  watchful  care  and  selection  is  needed 
for  several  years,  no  matter  how  fine  they  may  appear.  The  males 
from  a  light  sire,  if  used  at  all,  though  showing  standard  color, 
should  be  mated  with  dark  hens,  for  the  reason  that  he  controls  the 
color,  and  in  the  second  or  third  generation  is  apt  to  transmit  the 
lightness  of  his  sire. 

The  reason  that  Mr.  Felch  and  other  experienced  writers  give 
such  mating  as  No.  3,  is  that  some  breeders  may  not  have  dark 
males,  but  plenty  of  dark  females,  and  that,  owing  to  one  cause  or 
another,  had  not,  at  breeding  time,  dark  or  even  medium  light  males, 
and  were  obliged  to  use  the  best  they  had.  A  breed  so  popular  as 
the  Silver  Wyandottes,  and  in  the  hands  of  experienced  and  inex- 
perienced persons,  must  be  expected  to  breed  in  every  way  but  the 
most  desirable.  The  oldest  of  our  breeds  produce  a  large  per  cent, 
of  non-standard  birds,  and  every  spring  there  is  more  or  less  selec- 
tion and  skill  necessary  to  breed  them  to  standard  requirements. 

Of  course,  the  novice  is  aware  that  the  males  and  females  men- 
tioned in  these  matings  as  off  in  standard  color,  are  desirable  in 
other  points,  and  if  of  proper  color  and  lacing  would  be  good  birds 
and  scale  high.  This  should  be  understood  by  the  young  beginner, 
and  if  the  male  or  female  show  any  deformity  of  comb — too  large, 
or  following  the  form  of  the  Hamburg,  Dominique,  or  Dorking,  or 
other  flagrant  faults,  and  off  in  color,  too — such  birds  are  not  fit  to 
breed  from;  but  if  other  points  are  fairly  good,  the  comb  or  other 
fault  can  be  improved  by  mating  one  or  more  with  small  combs  of 


24  WYANDOTTES 

proper  shape  with  the  bird  that  has  a  deformed  comb.  It  is  the 
same  with  hackles,  breast,  back,  wings,  tail,  legs,  etc.;  whatever  is 
deficient  in  one  should  be  a  little  in  excess  in  the  other,  so  that  the 
mating  of  such  birds  may  give  the  offspring  the  feature  in  a  modi- 
fied form. 

Color  and  comb  are  the  most  difficult  points  to  get  good.  The 
novice  may  not  have  visited  a  leading  show,  to  form  in  his  mind 
what  the  male  and  female  Silver  Wyandotte  should  look  like  in 
these  two  particular  features.  The  Silver  Wyandotte  cock  has 
much,  if  not  all,  the  color  and  penciling  of  the  Dark  Brahma,  differ- 
ing in  breast  and  wings.  The  hen  is,  in  plumage,  much  like  a  well- 
laced  Polish  hen,  but  differing  in  tail.  In  fact,  the  Polish  hen  would 
be  a  very  good  ideal,  as  far  as  lacing  is  concerned.  The  comb  should 
be  a  neat  rose,  fine,  evenly  corrugated,  with  a  spike  much  shorter 
than  that  of  the  Hamburg,  closely  following  the  curve  of  the  crown 
and  bend  of  neck. 

Speaking  of  mating,  Mr.  J.  Penfold  Field,  author  of  a  small  work 
on  Wyandottes,  published  in  England,  says:  "This  breed,  more, 
perhaps,  than  any  other,  has  the  tendency  to  breed  light,  and  for  this 
reason  alone  we  should  never  breed  from  light  males.  We  must 
always  remember  that  males  influence  color  more  than  females. 

"  A  standard  male,  with  breast  lacing  not  very  wide,  is  the  light- 
est we  should  ever  use  for  breeding  purposes,  if  we  wish  to  place 
any  reliance  on  our  future  stock. 

"  Of  course,  the  best  mating  of  all  is  the  happy  medium,  when 
we  put  full  standard  males  to  full  standard  females;  but  it  is  not 
many  of  us  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  have  such  birds  to  mate 
together,  and  we  must  therefore  do  the  best  with  what  we  have. 

"Many  of  the  females  fail  in  breast,  having  moon-shaped  span- 
gles instead  of  lacing.  They  will  also  be  light  in  fluff  and  white  in 
tail.  To  such  birds  we  should  mate  a  male  that  has  been  bred  from 
standard  hens,  and  that  is  up  to  standard  in  every  point  except 
breast,  and  this  may  be  as  dark  as  possible;  even  if  pure  black,  it  will 
be  better,  for  such  light-colored  females,  if  mated  to  a  standard  bird, 
would  scarcely  breed  a  good  chicken.  Another  style  of  females 
that  many  of  us  have  are  those  which  have  perfect,  heavily-laced 
breasts,  but  are  too  dark  on  back,  cushion  and  wings.  To  such  we 
must  mate  the  lightest  shade  male  that  can  be  allowed  by  the  stand- 
ard. In  all  matings  we  must  get  the  males  with  as  clear  hackles  as 
possible,  free  from  white  in  tail,  and  in  the  Silvers  the  wings  and 
back  ^should  be  free  from  brassy  or  brown  feathers. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — MATING.  25 

"  The  females  must  be  as  free  from  penciling  as  possible,  but 
always  give  the  preference  to  those  standard  birds  that  may  be 
slightly  mossed  on  cushion,  before  those  non-standard  birds  with 
good,  clear  backs. 

"Good  pullets  do  not  always  grow  into  good  hens,  and  as  at 
least  one-half  the  general  run  of  matings  will  consist  of  second 
year's  females,  a  word  of  warning  will  not  be  out  of  place:  Do  not 
discard  hens  that  were  good  standard  pullets,  because  they  have 
moulted  with  spangled  breasts — as  a  rule  fowls  breed  to  their  first 
feathers — but  mate  these  birds  that  have  so  faded,  with  a  somewhat 
darker  cockerel  than  you  would  use  to  a  full  standard  female. 

"  Of  course,  whenever  it  is  possible,  use  hens  that  have  moulted 
to  full  standard  form,  and  use  the  full  standard  mating. 

"  No  matter  what  we  may  wish,  think,  or  do,  we  cannot  upset  the 
first  law  of  nature,  "  Like  produces  like,"  which,  being  interpreted 
as  regards  Wyandottes,  means  that  standard  males  mated  to  stand- 
ard females  will  produce  standard  chickens  of  both  sexes.  Excep- 
tion proves -the  rule.  I  am  aware  that  standard  males  and  females 
can  be  and  have  been  produced  by  matings  other  than  this;  but 
from  no  other  mating  is  it  possible  to  obtain  such  a  large  per- 
centage of  good  chickens  of  both  sexes,  as  from  the  mating  in  ques- 
tion. 

"  I  cannot  too  often  repeat,  and  I  will  be  very  dogmatic  on  this 
point,  that  light  males  should  never  on  any  account  be  used;  I  will 
go  even  further  than  this,  and  say  that  even  standard  males  of  the 
progeny  of  a  light  sire  must  be  thrown  out. 

"  This  remark  is  also  applicable  to  females,  for  no  matter  how 
fine  a  hen  may  be  in  her  own  personal  charms,  if  she  is  the  offspring 
of  light,  off-colored  parents,  she  is  nearly  useless  as  a  breeder  and 
is  certainly  unreliable. 

"  The  above  questions  as  to  mating  include  both  the  .Golden  and 
Silver  varieties. 

"  UNDER-COLOR. — There  is  one  other  item  that  generally  appears 
to  be  ignored  in  the  mating  of  Wyandottes  of  all  varieties — it  is 
under -color. 

"  Now,  possibly,  I  may  be  told  that  so  long  as  the  surface  is  all 
right,  what  matters  the  color  below  ?  Well,  it  only  matters  so  much 
that  it  influences  the  whole  progeny  for  generations.  In  the  laced 
varieties  this  should  be  dark  slate  color,  and  were  this  always  taken 
note  of,  we  should  not  be  troubled  with  the  many  off-colored  birds 
that  we  are  now. 


26  WYANDOTTES. 

"  In  White  Wyandottes,  under-color  is  the  main  secret  of  pro- 
ducing sound  colored  birds,  for  if  this  be  not  a  pure  white,  free  from 
any  cream  or  lemon  tinge,  then  it  is  just  about  impossible  to  get  the 
surface  color  pure.  The  under  color  in  Black  Wyandottes  should 
be  dark  slate,  as  in  the  laced  varieties — but  in  many  instances,  on 
lifting  the  black  feathers,  they  are  found  to  be  white  at  the  root. 
This  I  can  only  put  down  to  the  influence  of  the  yellow  legs,  for  in 
poultry  breeding  yellow  legs  and  black  plumage  do  not  go  hand  in 
hand,  as  one  might  wish  to  be  the  case." 

Some  breeders  say  it  is  not  natural. 

"I  cannot  travel  quite  so  fast  as  this,"  continues  Mr.  Field, 
"  because,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  there  is  nothing  artificial  in  a  yellow 
leg.  In  Italy,  where  birds  are  not  scientifically  bred,  Black  Leg- 
horns are  seen  with  yellow  legs.  The  percentage  of  good  legged 
ones,  I  admit;  the  unnatural  part  of  it,  I  do  not. 

"One  thing  is,  however,  evident,  viz.:  The  lighter  the  blood, 
the  larger  number  of  good  legged  ones  obtained;  and  this  leads  me 
to  suppose  that  very  little  attention  is  paid  to  white  under-color,  so 
long  as  that  white  does  not  appear  in  surface  plumage.  In  these 
self-colored  varieties  it  is  only  right  that  more  attention  should  be 
given  to  combs  and  leg  color,  than  in  the  laced  varieties;  not  but 
what  these  sections  should  be  as  perfect  in  the  Goldens  and  Silvers; 
but  a  faulty  comb  in  a  White  or  a  Black,  should  be  more  severely 
dealt  with  in  selecting  for  show  or  breeding  purposes;  the  same 
applies  to  shanks.  The  reason  is  obvious.  In  the  Whites  and 
Blacks  we  have  not  the  various  sections  of 'mixed  colors  to  breed 
for,  and,  therefore,  having  only  one  color  to  obtain,  the  difficulty 
should  not  be  so  great. 

"  Color  faults  in  these  two  varieties  are  more  often  seen  in  the 
males — in  neck,  wings,  back  and  saddle  of  the  Whites,  and  neck 
and  tail  of  the  Blacks;  but  in  the  Black  Wyandotte  the  most  impor- 
tant point  of  all  in  mating  is  the  quality  of  the  shank.  The  tend- 
ency is  to  dark  or  yellowy-black,  instead  of  bright  yellow;  and  in 
selecting  a  bird  for  breeding,  if  we  cannot  get  a  perfect  bird,  we 
must  use  our  discretion  in  choosing  a  bird  sound  in  color  but  faulty 
in  leg,  or  one  perfect  in  legs  and  white  in  neck  or  tail.  It  must 
resolve  itself  into  a  question  as  to  the  extent  of  these  two  faults. 

"  The  Wyandotte,  as  seen  in  England,  shows  many  deformities 
of  comb.  They  are  generally  large,  heavy,  deeply  serrated,  fleshy 
masses,  following  the  White  Dorking  and  Hamburg  type;  spikes 
all  shapes,  and  straight  out  behind,  or,  may  be,  with  an  upward 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — LAWS  OF  BREEDING.  27 

tendency  (just  the  reverse  of  its  proper  form),  and  the  surface 
prominently  displaying  hollows  of  various  sizes. 

"  In  selecting  for  breeding,  comb  must  be  one  of  the  chief  con- 
siderations, and  I  shall  always  insist  on  a  neat,  fine,  evenly  corru- 
gated one,  the  surface  corrugations  being  very  small  or  pimply,  with 
a  spike  of  moderate  length,  closely  following  the  bend  of  neck. 

"  We  cannot  be  too  careful  in  the  selection  of  our  sires  and 
dams,  for  not  only  will  their  faults  or  merits  be  seen  in  their  own 
progeny,  but  a  fault  will  frequently  appear  in  the  stock  of  later 
generations." 

LAWS    OF  BREEDING. 

"  EVOLUTION." — As  we  have  given  much  space  to  breeding  in 
this  work,  we  can  devote  only  a  few  pages  to  this  important  subject, 
though  it  is  the  first  time  that  such  a  subject,  its  scope  and  treat- 
ment, has  been  brought  forward  in  a  work  devoted  to  poultry. 
The  law  of  evolution,  so  far  as  it  is  understood,  is  a  law  controlling 
development  and  keeping  types  within  appointed  circles  of  growth, 
which  revolve  for  ever  upon  themselves,  returning  at  appointed 
intervals  to  the  same  starting  point,  and  repeating,  through  a  suc- 
cession of  phases,  the  same  course. 

"  PREPOTENCY." — Is  the  power  possessed  by  a  bird  of  stamping 
his  or  her  likeness  upon  the  progeny  of  a  union,  to  the  exclusion  of 
the  likeness  of  the  other  parent.  Some  males  have  been  remarkable, 
renowned  and  distinguished  for  such  individual  power,  but  experi- 
ments have  proved  that  certain  colors  are  more  enduring  than 
others,  and  are  more  readily  transmitted.  Most  all  breeders  seem 
to  favor  the  prepotency  of  the  sire  in  externals,  and,  when  the  sire 
is  white,  his  color  is  usually  transmitted;  but,  when  a  Black-Red 
Game  sire  is  crossed  on  Gray  or  Duckwing  hens,  the  result  is 
different.  There  is  more  or  less  counteracting  influence  in  every 
opposite  union,  a  sort  of  "  see-saw  "  influence,  or  balance  of  male 
and  female;  this  is  as  nature  intended  it  should  be. 

A  "  BREED." — This  is  generally  understood  to  mean  a  natural 
division  of  species,  differing  in  certain  distinct  points  from  all  other 
species,  A  breed  may  consist  of  several  "varieties,"  agreeing  in 
certain  common  features,  but  differing  in  others.  Varieties  are 
generally  artificially  produced,  or  they  may  be  produced  by  different 
climatic  or  such  like  influences  operating  upon  certain  individuals 
of  a  breed.  They  may  also  be  the  result  of  a  "  sport,"  which  is  an 
accident  or  freak  of  nature,  whereby  is  produced  offspring  differing, 


28  WYANDOTTES. 

in  some  important  point  or  points,  from  the  breed  or  variety  to 
which  its  parents  belonged. 

A  "  STRAIN  " — Is,  properly  speaking,  a  family,  with  established 
and  recognized  points  of  mutual  resemblance. 

"HERIDITY,  OR  ATAVISM"  —  Is  the  inheritance  by  offspring 
of  the  characteristics  or  likeness  of  their  ancestors,  more  or  less 
remote.  The  phenomena  of  atavism  or  reversion  to  ancestral 
characters,  and  the  resemblance  of  offspring  to  a  remote  ancestor 
that  differed  in  many  respects  from  the  parents,  is  little  studied  by 
the  majority  of  breeders,  and  yet,  many  of  the  "  sports "  and  off- 
colors  which  come  suddenly  in  broods  of  pure  bred  fowls,  once  in  a 
while,  might  be  traced  back  to  some  controlling  ancestor. 

The  word  atavism  is  from  atavus,  an  ancestor,  and,  though  the 
name  is  significant  itself,  it  is  better  known  by  the  names  "  rever- 
sion," "  throwing  back,"  "  breeding  back,"  to  a  long  lost  or  for- 
gotten character  in  the  ancestor.  Any  peculiarity  of  an  ancestor, 
either  in  organization,  type,  form,  color,  trait,  etc.,  may  be  transmit- 
ted, more  or  less,  however  remotely,  to  the  offspring,  when  favorable 
conditions  lead  to  their  development.  Mr.  Tallet,  of  Betley,  Eng- 
land, crossed  his  fowls  with  Malays,  and,  though  he  attempted  to 
get  rid  of  this  strain,  he  gave  it  up  in  despair,  the  Malay  character- 
istics reappearing  forty  years  after  the  cross  was  made.  Professor 
Agassiz  has  remarked  that  the  offspring  is  not  the  offspring  of 
fathers  and  mothers,  but  of  the  grandparents  as  well. 

Darwin  has  diligently  labored  to  show  that  the  evolution  of 
species  and  varieties  rests  upon  a  triple  foundation,  which  includes 
the  law  of  inheritance,  the  law  of  variation  and  the  law  of  selection. 
The  law  of  inheritance  points  to  that  universal  tendency  in  all  forms 
of  life  by  which  it  transmits  and  perpetuates  its  likeness;  the  law  that 
"like  begets  like."  The  law  of  variation  is  declared  to  modify  this 
law  of  inheritance;  individuals  in  any  species  having  an  original  and 
inherent  power  to  vary  slightly  from  the  parent  form,  to  transmit 
such  variations  by  successive  transmissions  and  accumulations,  to 
perfect  and  fix  such  variations;  and,  finally,  it  is  asserted  that  nature, 
or  natural  selection,  provokes  and  pushes  this  power  of  variation,  by 
that  fearful  struggle  for  existence,  that  wide-spread  and  remorseless 
conflict,  under  whose  steady  pressure  each  living  form  is  forced  to 
develop  to  the  utmost,  to  retain  and  augment  every  slight  advan- 
tage— a  conflict  that  issues  in  "  the  survival  of  the  fittest." 

It  is  evident  that  Darwin  makes  the  law  of  variation  the  scien- 
tific backbone  of  the  whole  system.  His  fundamental  thought  is, 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — LAWS  OF  BREEDING.  29 

that  what  we  call  species  are  only  older  varieties,  and  he  justifies 
himself  in  this  generalization  by  showing  that,  under  the  hand  of 
man,  by  domestication  and  careful  breeding,  varieties  may  be  pro- 
duced that  exhibit  the  marks  of  distinct  species. 

Selection  breeding,  then,  is  capable  of  inducing  marked  devia- 
tions from  the  original  type.  "  But,"  Darwin  argues,  "  if  organic 
beings  had  not  possessed  an  inherent  tendency  to  vary,  man  could 
have  done  nothing.  Man  does  not  actually  produce  variability;  he 
only,  unintentionally,  exposes  his  animals  and  plants  to  new  con- 
ditions of  life,  and  variability  supervenes,  which  he  cannot  even 
prevent  or  check."  That  is,  man  only  exposes  the  new  form,  but 
does  not  produce  it.  It  must  have  been  there  potentially  from  the 
beginning;  it  is  evolved,  not  created.  Living  forms  must  possess, 
not  only  the  power  to  transmit  their  likenesses,  but  in  favoring  con- 
ditions to  vary  widely,  to  transmit  and  so  perpetuate  and  fix  the 
variations.  In  the  wide  field  of  nature,  natural  selection  takes  the 
place  of  man's  selection;  an  immense  advantage,  in  Darwin's  judg- 
ment, as  "  man  can  act  only  on  external  and  visible  characters," 
while  nature  "can  act  on  every  internal  organ,  on  every  shade  of 
constitutional  difference,  on  the  whole  machinery  of  life." 

IN-BREEDING. — We  now  come  to  the  most  important  part  of 
the  laws  of  breeding,  and  which  interests  every  breeder  more  or 
less.  This  question  has  been  frequently  discussed,  and  with  few 
unimportant  exceptions,  the  great  weight  of  authority  opposes  and 
condemns  this  system,  as  fraught  with  the  worst  possible  evils,  even 
to  sterility,  when  carried  to  excess.  We  have  given  much  study  to 
this  subject,  and  know  the  many  difficulties  that  come  in  the  way  of 
the  novice  to  avoid  it,  but  we  do  believe,  and  we  are  the  only  one,  to 
our  knowledge,  who  has  put  himself  on  record  by  saying,  that  long 
continued  incestuous  breeding,  in  the  absence  of  heredity  transmis- 
sion, or  reversion  to  ancestral  characters,  causes  variation  from  the 
parent  type,  color  and  leading  characteristics;  and  that  some  of  the 
so-called  "sports  of  nature,"  in  animals  and  birds,  could  be  traced 
to  incestuous  breeding. 

If  space  would  permit,  we  think  we  could  prove  this  point.  We 
hold,  with  Dr.  Dawson  and  other  eminent  scientists,  that  the  first  of 
every  species  was  exceptionally  perfect;  but  we  are,  perhaps,  alone  in 
saying  that  variation  never  takes  place  while  the  natural  laws  are 
strictly  observed,  and  all  under  like  conditions  ;  and  the  excep- 
tions to  this  rule  are  mainly  due  to  nervous  impressions,  or  in  other 
words,  sexual  impressions,  which  are  transmitted  to  one  or  more  of 
the  offspring  through  the  nervous  system. 


30  WYANDOTTES. 

Some  apologists  of  in-breeding,  point  with  pride  to  certain 
strains  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  swine  and  fowl,  then  refer  to  the 
pedigree  and  inquire  triumphantly,  "  How  can  you  produce  in  any 
other  way,  in  so  short  a  time,  such  splendid  results?  We,  the 
advocates  of  this  system,  have  practiced  it  openly;  we  have  produced 
winning  stock  at  the  shows  and  have  made  money.  That  is  enough. 
What  is  possible,  practicable  and  profitable,  is  advisable."  That  is 
a  short  plea,  and  it  does  not  cover  the  ground  or  close  the  case. 
The  in-breeder  is  like  the  man  who  insures  his  house  and  then  sets 
it  on  fire.  When  the  fire  gets  under  strong  headway,  he  calls  for  the 
fire  engine;  so  in  the  other  case  there  is  a  call  for  fresh  blood.  But 
the  home  is  liable  to  burn  down  !  No  matter — it  is  a  quick  way  of 
turning  it  into  money. 

Speaking  of  in-breeding,  an  English  authority  says:  "There  is 
always  a  starting  point  for  this  system.  Reference  is  always  made 
to  some  wonderful  sire  as  the  great  progenitor.  Now,  let  us  inquire, 
how  was  the  great  progenitor  obtained  ?  Was  he  the  result  of 
several  turns  of  in-breeding?  Was  he,  designedly  or  accidentally? 
What  came  of  the  union  of  two  unrelated  specimens,  male  and 
female,  both  possessing  more  than  ordinary  amount  of  good  qualities, 
such  as  hardiness,  symmetry,  innate  vitality  and  prepotency?  People 
ought  to  know  how  these  wonderful  first  parents  came  about,  for 
they  desire  to  come  into  possession  of  others.  The  fact  is  patent; 
these  extraordinary  specimens,  that  stand  head  and  shoulders  above 
their  fellows,  are  the  products  of  a  long  course  of  breeding  and 
selection  to  be  traced  back  thousands  of  years.  They  crop  out  here 
and  there,  sometimes  unexpectedly;  are  not  numerous,  and  if  used 
according  to  the  laws  of  nature  and  common  sense,  they  tend  greatly 
to  accelerate  improvement.  If  used  in  schemes  of  incest,  they  are 
about  lost  to  their  race,  in  the  long  run." 

This  subject  would  not  here  receive  so  much  attention  were  it 
not  for  the  fact  that  the  evils  of  in-and-in-breeding  are  becoming 
more  and  more  apparent  every  year  in  this  country.  And  this  is 
the  way  that  decadence  is  effected.  An  enterprising,  or  we  may 
say  fortunate,  fancier  gets  in  his  possession  a  very  remarkable  male 
bird,  having  the  gift  of  what  is  called  prepotency  in  a  high  degree, 
and  he  calls  this  valuable  stock-getter  Duke  of  Essex,  Excelsior,  or 
what  not.  Very  well — he  ought  to  have  a  good  name.  He  breeds 
this  fine  cock  with  the  best  hen  he  can  possess.  Very  well — a  fine 
lot  of  chickens.  The  next  year  he  puts  this  fine  cock  with  his  own 
pullets,  and  the  next  year  with  those  that  would  be  his  grand- 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — LAWS  OF  BREEDING.  31 

daughters.  In  the  meantime  he  exhibits  and  advertises,  and  the 
world  finds  out  that  he  has  produced  the  renowned  Excelsior  strain. 
He  sells  to  A,  B  and  C  in  different  sections,  men  who  want  the  best, 
and  they  pay  him  high  prices.  They  also  study  the  "art  of  breed- 
ing," and  they  learn  that  the  grand  secret  is  in-breeding  ;  so  they 
each  commence  the  same  process  with  their  newly  acquired  stock. 
Each  of  them  sells  eggs  for  hatching,  though  they  have  a  queer 
suspicion  that  the  breeders  do  not  lay  well,  and  somehow  there  is  a 
reduction  in  number  and  quality  of  chickens  hatched,  that  does  not 
correspond  with  prices  paid.  The  few  chickens  hatched  do  not 
equal  their  great-great-great  grandfather,  on  the  father's  side. 
There  is  something  of  a  resemblance,  but  it  is  painful.  An  unusual 
vigor  and  prepotency  is  not  easily  blotted  out.  It  is  a  great  pity 
when  all  excellence  is  "  bred  out,"  and  nothing  is  left  but  a  name. 

"  NATURAL  SELECTION." — The  theory  of  natural  selection  and 
of  "  the  survival  of  the  fittest,"  is  as  follows:  Birds,  as  other  animals, 
in  a  state  of  nature  select  their  mates  partly  on  account  of  their 
superior  strength,  etc.,  and  partly  on  account  of  certain  beauties, 
pleasing  to  the  eye.  In  addition  to  this,  the  weaklings  of  each 
brood  die,  and  those  the  plumage  of  which  is  least  adapted  for  con- 
cealment from  predatory  animals,  etc.,  fall  a  prey  to  their  natural 
enemies.  In  both  these  ways  the  strength  of  the  stock  is  kept  up, 
and  a  particular  type  of  plumage  (that  most  pleasing  to  the  eye  of 
the  other  sex,  or  that  most  suited  for  concealment  from  enemies),  is 
perpetuated. 

"  ARTIFICIAL  SELECTION  " — Is  entirely  different  and  consists, 
in  the  first  instance,  in  the  arbitrary  settling  by  man  of  certain 
features  which  he  desires  to  perpetuate,  and  the  perpetuation  by 
artificial  means  of  these  features. 

REMARKS. 

The  breeder  is  now  in  possession  of  the  leading  facts  in  the 
laws  of  breeding,  and  ought  to  profit  by  the  information.  There  is 
yet  much  to  be  learned,  and  which  still  remains  a  stubborn  mystery. 
It  puzzles  all  to  account  for  the  variations  which  unexpectedly 
appear  in  flocks  of  fowls,  as  well  as  in  animals.  In  a  large  family 
we  seldom  find  all  the  children  resembling  either  the  father  or  the 
mother,  and,  in  many  instances,  the  resemblance  to  a  grandparent 
or  some  more  remote  ancestor,  prevails  to  so  great  an  extent  that  the 
obvious  peculiarities  of  the  immediate  parents  are  obscured. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  no  two  animals  are  precisely  alike  in 


32  WYANDOTTES. 

all  details  of  the  organization,  no  matter  how  close  the  relationship 
or  how  striking  the  resemblance;  and  in  connection  with  this,  it  has 
been  observed  that  instances  occur  in  which  individuals  present  an 
assemblage  of  characters  quite  different  from  those  that  characterize 
the  parents.  These  have  been  explained  on  the  supposition  that 
there  must  be  a  law  of  "  spontaneity,"  which  is  antagonistic  to 
heredity,  or  that  the  law  of  heredity  is  not  constant  in  its  action, 
but  limited  by  numerous  exceptions. 

JUDGING. 

The  Standard  demands  that  all  varieties  of  the  Wyandotte 
breed  be  of  one  shape,  and  that  all  must  conform  to  the  type  of  the 
Silvers,  on  account  of  priority;  it  being  admitted  to  the  Standard 
and  judged  by  its  present  type,  therefore,  it  should  have  the  prefer- 
ence in  regulating  the  form  of  all  subsequent  varieties. 

SYMMETRY — Is  a  mooted  question  among  judges,  therefore  we 
will  not  discuss  its  value  and  usefulness  in  judging  fowls;  but  no 
other  word  can  express  so  concisely,  intelligently  and  correctly  its 
meaning.  In  considering  symmetry,  as  it  is  generally  understood, 
the  male  is  judged  more  critically  and  severely  than  the  female,  and 
every  defect  punished  more  rigorously  than  the  same  in  the  female. 
This  severity  is  due  to  the  fact,  that  it  is  expected  of  the  male  to 
transmit  external  points  in  a  greater  degree,  and  therefore,  every 
defect  in  symmetry  is  punished'more  severely  in  the  male.  Symme- 
try is  the  harmony  of  parts  taken  as  a  whole,  and  must  be  typical  of 
the  breed  represented. 

A  male  with  a  large  head,  long  neck,  long  legs  and  long,  bony 
body,  would  not  be  considered  symmetrical  for  a  Wyandotte,  because 
each  section  is  defective  and  cannot  represent  the  type  of  the  breed. 
For  instance,  if  the  comb  be  too  large  or  badly  shaped,  it  is  cut 
from  one-half  to  a  point;  if  the  neck  be  long  and  not  well  arched, 
it  is  cut  a  point;  if  the  back  be  not  flat,  or  if  too  long  and  out  of 
proportion,  it  is  cut  a  point;  if  the  breast  is  narrow,  wedge  shaped 
or  cut  away  in  fullness  and  roundness,  it  is  cut  a  point;  if  the  fluff 
be  scant  and  the  bird  narrow  behind  the  legs,  it  is  cut  one-half  to  a 
point;  and  if  the  tail  be  drooping,  it  is  cut  one-half  to  a  point. 
These  faults  make  symmetry  defective. 

WEIGHT. — This  is  judged  by  the  scales;  in  all  breeds  having 
weight  clauses,  except  Bantams,  two  points  are  deducted  for  any 
deficit  from  the  standard  weights,  or  in  that  proportion  for  any 
fractional  part  of  a  pound. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — JUDGING.  33 

CONDITION. — This  implies  health,  cleanliness  and  general  ap- 
pearance of  plumage,  and  head  and  limbs.  Some  judges  cut  for 
broken  plumage  in  this  section,  whilst  others  cut  in  the  sections 
where  such  occurs.  Fowls  suffering  from  chicken-pox,  roup, 
canker,  or  any  eruptive  disease;  black  and  white  comb,  or  scrofula, 
scaly  legs  or  bumble  foot,  soiled  plumage,  or  anything  that  would 
mar  condition  in  its  most  healthy  and  perfect  appearance,  is  subject 
to  a  cut  of  one  to  three  points;  surface  soiling  incident  to  cooping, 
scratches  on  head  or  legs  from  the  same  cause,  is  treated  with  lenity 
and  usually  passes  uncut. 

HEAD. — This  should  be  short  and  the  crown  broad;  if  narrow 
and  wedge-shaped,  or  snaky-headed,  like  the  Malay  and  Sumatra 
Game,  it  is  cut  one  point;  if  the  eyes  be  other  color  than  bay,  they 
are  cut  a  point;  if  the  beak  be  black  throughout,  or  if  cavernous 
and  deficient  in  curve,  each  defect  is  cut;  if  a  shade  of  yellow  is 
discernable  on  the  point  and  edges  of  lower  mandible,  a  half-point 
would  be  just,  but  in  the  absence  of  any  shade  of  yellow,  it  is  cut  a 
point;  it  is  also  cut  a  point  for  being  flal  Plumage  should  be 
silvery  white. 

COMB. — This  is  described  as  rose,  but  there  is  much  difference 
in  rose  combs,  as  can  be  seen  by  comparing  the  comb  of  the  Wyan- 
dotte  and  that  of  the  Red  Cap.  The  Hamburg  comb  is  a  typical 
rose  comb.  The  Wyandotte  comb  differs  from  the  latter  in  being 
smaller,  and  in  having  less  prominence  of  spike.  If  the  comb  be 
too  large,  standing  high  from  the  crown,  flat  or  hollow  in  center,  or 
if  it  drops  down  flat  upon  the  neck,  or  turns  up  at  the  rear,  it  is  cut 
one  point,  but  when  the  comb  is  excessively  large,  flabby  and  shaky 
with  the  movement  of  the  head,  it  is  cut  one  to  three  points,  as  in 
degree.  The  comb  should  have  an  oval  sweep  on  top  from  front  to 
rear,  in  place  of  being  flat;  if  the  comb  be  "  chubby  "  and  deficient 
in  spike,  it  is  cut  one  to  two  points,  as  in  degree;  one  so  fleshy  as  to 
lop  to  one  side,  disqualifies. 

WATTLES  AND  EAR-LOBES. — They  should  be  bright  red  ;  if 
the  wattles  be  wrinkled,  frozen  or  mutilated,  they  are  cut  one-half 
to  two  points,  as  in  degree,  but  it  is  only  when  both  wattles  are 
missing,  that  two  points  can  justly  be  imposed  on  wattles.  The  ear- 
lobes  are  seldom  cut,  only  when  white  or  yellow  become  permanently 
fixed  over  a  part  of  the  surface,  and  then  they  are  cut  one  to  three 
points,  as  in  degree;  but  if  the  whole  of  the  ear-lobes  are  covered  with 
white  or  yellow  enamel,  as  in  White-Faced  Black  Spanish,  it  disqual- 


34  WYANDOTTES. 

ifies  the  specimen.  A  blending  of  red  and  yellow,  without  appear- 
ing in  patches,  should  not  be  cut  over  one  point. 

NECK. — Should  be  short  and  well  arched.  The  novice  may  not 
understand  what  is  meant  by  the  word  short,  as  applied  to  the  neck 
of  the  Wyandotte.  It  is  short  and  thick  in  comparison  with  other 
breeds  of  the  American  class,  and  the  arch  of  the  neck  is  more  con- 
spicuous on  account  of  its  shortness,  and  the  hackle  seems  more 
abundant  by  the  sweep  of  curve.  When  long  or  wanting  in  curve, 
it  is  cut  one-half  to  one  point;  if  the  hackle  be  scant  or  short,  it  is 
cut  one-half  to  one  point;  if  the  neck  plumage  be  smutty  black,  and 
no  distinct  black  stripe,  it  is  cut  two  points;  if  the  feathers  have 
not  a  metallic  lustre  or  if  striped  with  brown,  there  is  a  cut  of  one 
to  one  and  a  half  points,  which  can  be  added  to  the  cut  for  smutty 
hackle.  If  the  lacing  be  wanting  one-half  or  three-fourths  on 
feathers  by  reason  of  being  black,  it  is  cut  one  to  two  points;  if  the 
color  be  white,  that  is,  the  hackles  without  black  stripes,  it  is  cut 
two  points;  if  in  place  of  silvery  white,  the  hackle  be  straw  color  or 
yellow,  it  is  cut  one  to  two  points. 

BACK. — The  back  is  short  for  a  breed  of  the  size  of  Wyandottes, 
but  compared  with  the  length  of  the  bird,  it  is  medium.  The  back 
has  a  flat  appearance  across  the  shoulders,  owing  to  the  neck  being 
short,  and  from  the  cape  the  downward  slope  is  short,  and  the  saddle 
rises  with  a  concave  sweep  to  the  tail.  If  the  back  be  convexed  or 
reached,  it  is  cut  one-half  to  one  and  a  half  points,  as  in  degree;  if 
the  back  be  narrow  and  oval,  when  the  wings  are  set  low,  it  shows  a 
natural  defect  and  injures  symmetry,  and  such  cases  should  be  cut 
at  least  one  point.  The  defects  in  this  section,  as  a  rule,  are  not 
many;  long,  round  and  narrow  backs  are  quite  common,  but  reached 
backs  are  rare.  Pinched  saddle,  is  cut  one-half  to  one  point;  long 
backs,  one  half  to  one  point;  straight  backs,  one-half  to  one  and  a 
half  points.  The  want  of  fullness  in  cushion  is  more  apparent  in  the 
female,  and  is  cut  from  one-half  to  one  point.  If  the  back  be  not 
silver- white  or  silver-gray,  with  no  black  stripe  in  center  of  feathers, 
it  is  cut  one-half  to  one  point;  if  the  saddle  feathers  be  tinged 
with  straw  color  or  bronze  or  yellow  or  gray,  it  is  cut  from  one-half 
to  two  points;  if  the  black  be  tinged  with  copper  or  gray,  it  is  cut 
from  one-half  to  two  points;  if  penciled  white  centers  appear  on  the 
backs  of  females,  it  is  cut  one-half  point;  if  the  white  centers  be  dis- 
colored, it  is  cut  one-half  to  two  points;  slaty  lacing  is  cut  one-half 
to  two  points. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — JUDGING.  35 

BREAST. — If  the  breast  be  crooked,  it  is  cut  one  to  two  points; 
if  flat  in  front  or  wedge-shaped,  or  if  it  fails  in  being  broad  and 
round,  it  is  cut  for  either  defect  from  one-half  to  one  and  a  half 
points;  if  the  plumage  be  too  light,  having  a  very  narrow  black 
lacing,  it  is  cut  one  point;  if  the  lacing  be  wide,  and  brown  in  color 
in  place  of  being  black,  it  is  cut  one  point;  if  the  breast  be  too  dark, 
it  is  cut  one-half  to  one  and  a  half  points,  as  in  degree;  if  slaty  lacing, 
one-half  to  two  points;  irregularity  of  line  between  colors,  is  cut 
one-half  to  one  and  a  half;  if  white  edge  to  the  black  lacing  appear, 
it  is  one-half  to  one  point;  if  there  be  a  failure  of  lacing  on  the 
females,  it  is  cut  from  one-half  to  two  points. 

BODY. — This  should  be  thick,  deep  in  front  of  thighs  and  well 
rounded  at  the  sides,  with  a  corresponding  fullness  of  fluff.  If  the 
sides  be  flat,  it  is  cut  one  point;  if  lack  of  depth,  or  shrunken  in 
fluff,  or  spare  in  sides,  each  defect  is  cut  from  one-half  to  one  point, 
as  in  degree;  if  there  be -an  excess  of  fluff  and  of  dropping  down 
behind,  it  is  cut  one-half  to  one  point;  if  plumage  be  white,  it  is  cut 
one-half  to  one  and  a  half  points;  if  black  fluff,  one-half  to  one 
point;  white  splashes  in  front  of  thighs,  from  one  half  to  one  and  a 
half  points.  The  male  is  black,  or  black  slightly  frosted  with  white, 
upon  the  under  part  of  the  body;  and  the  fluff  should  be  dark  slate, 
or  dark  slate  powdered  with  gray.  The  female  is  less  faulty  in  these 
points;  for  white  underpart  of  body,  or  smutty  black  fluff,  or  for 
white  fluff,  the  penalty  of  each  defect  is  from  one-half  to  one  point. 

WINGS. — They  are  medium  large  and  should  be  carried  high 
enough  to  cause  a  flat  cape  across  the  backhand  when  this  is 
defective  it  is  cut  one  point;  drooping  wings,  one  point;  when  wings 
are  imperfectly  folded  or  one  wing  carried  higher  than  the  other,  it 
is  cut  from  one-half  to  two  points;  the  latter  cut  is  for  wings  which 
have  the  primaries  folded  outside  the  secondaries,  usually  designated 
''slipped  wing."  There  is  another  defect  in  wings  which  the 
Standard  has  not  noticed,  and  which  judges  have  seldom  if  ever 
specially  noted;  it  is  the  weakness  of  the  pectoral  muscles,  which 
are  continually  contracting  and  relaxing  the  wings.  If  the  weak- 
ness be  from  fighting  or  flying,  and  can  be  shown  that  it  is  tempo- 
rary, a  point  or  point  and  a  half  cut,  to  be  considered  the  same  as 
drooping  wings;  but  if  the  weakness  be  from  natural  cause,  the 
judge  would  be  justified  in  disqualifying  the  specimen.  The  wing- 
bars  are  the  most  important  sections  of  the  wing,  as  the  Standard 
calls  for  "a  double-spangled  bar."  If  the  wings  wholly  fail  in  the 
bars,  or,  in  other  words,  if  the  bar  or  bars  are  wanting,  it  is  cut  two 


36  WYANDOTTES. 

points;  if  the  bar  be  solid  black,  with  no  spangles  through  the  cen- 
ter, judges  look  on  this  with  more  leniency  than  if  there  was  a  loss 
of  color  to  make  two  separate  and  distinct  bars  across  the  wing;  as 
in  the  former  case,  the  cut  is  usually  half  a  point;  or  where  it  is  a 
solid  or  Dark  Brahma  bar,  it  is  the  same;  while  in  the  latter  case, 
the  cut  is  one  and  a  half  points;  if  the  outer  web  of  secondaries  be 
penciled  with  brown  or  black,  to  cloud  the  triangular  tip,  it  is  cut 
from  one-half  to  two  points,  as  in  degree;  primaries,  three-quarters 
white,  one  point  for  each  wing;  solid  white  primary  or  secondary, 
one  point  for  each  wing;  lesser  coverts,  wholly  black,  one  to  two 
points;  black  or  bronze  on  rose  of  wing,  from  one-half  to  one  and  a 
half.  In  the  females,  the  centers  are  sometimes  penciled,  and  some- 
times the  feathers  are  spangled,  in  place  of  being  laced;  the  pen- 
ciled center  is  cut  one-half  to  one  and  a  half;  spangled  in  place  of 
laced,  one-half  to  one  and  a  half  points. 

TAIL. — If  the  tail  be  not  well  spread  at  the  base,  it  is  cut  one 
point;  if  the  sickles  be  straight,  the  cut  is  one  point;  if  pinched  or 
pointed,  spike-like,  one-half  to  one  and  a  half;  if  the  sickles  be  white, 
one-half  to  two  points,  as  in  degree;  if  the  lesser  sickles  or  tail 
coverts  be  colored  with  white,  one  to  two  points,  as  in  degree;  lesser 
coverts  wholly  white  or  gray,  one  point;  white  tips  to  main  feathers, 
one  point,  and  the  same  cut  if  white  appear  at  the  base  of  the  main 
feathers.  If  the  tail  be  carried  squirrel-like,  one  to  two  points;  when 
perpendicular,  one  point.  In  the  female,  if  the  tail  be  pinched,  one 
point;  grey  on  the  upper  surface  of  tail,  one-half  to  one  point. 

LEGS  AND  FEET. — If  the  thighs  be  long  and  small,  the  cut  is 
one  point;  for  each  crooked  toe,  one  point.  This  may  seem  severe 
for  a  long  leg,  but  the  thighs  and  shanks  of  this  breed  are  rather 
short;  one-half  point  is  the  usual  cut,  except  in  excess  of  length  and 
fineness  of  bone,  the  full  point  is  imposed.  If  the  male  shows  grey 
thighs,  the  cut  is  one  point;  if  the  shanks  be  faded,  or  the  front 
clouded  with  a  dusky  color,  and  the  rear  of  the  shank  yellow,  the 
cut  is  from  one  to  one  and  a  half  points;  black  scales  and  dark 
clouding  of  shanks,  one-half  to  two  points. 

REMARKS. 

We  have  quite  fully  given  the  defects  and  cuts  which  follow 
in  judging  Silver  Wyandottes.  Space  will  not  permit  us  to  judge 
the  female  singly,  as  we  have  in  the  most  important  sections  em- 
bodied the  female  defects  and  cuts.  The  breast,  however,  needs 
further  amplification,  and,  perhaps,  it  would  be  well  to  extend  the 


SILVER  WYANDOTTES — JUDGING.  37 

judging  to  hackle,  wings  and  fluff.  In  the  females  the  breast  plum- 
age is  generally  more  defective  than  in  males.  Most  of  the  cuts  for 
defects  are  found  in  the  throat  and  upper  part  of  breast,  owing  to 
the  failure  of  lacing,  and  these  defects  are  cut  from  one-half  to  two 
points;  the  hackle  is  also  cut  for  failure  in  color.  If  the  stripe  in 
the  silvery-white  feathers  be  wide  at  the  point,  giving  a  smutty  or 
blotched  appearance,  it  is  cut  from  one  to  two  points.  If  the  cush- 
ion be  flat,  cut  one- half  point,  and  when  it  is  so  flat  as  to  part  at 
tail,  it  is  cut  from  one  to  one  and  a  half  points.  If  the  plumage  of 
cushion  be  white,  laced  with  black  and  the  centers  penciled,  it  is  cut 
one-half  point;  if  fluff  be  white,  it  is  cut  one  to  one  and  a  half 
points;  if  the  plumage  on  back  has  bricky,  copper  or  bronzed  color 
or  hue,  it  is  cut  from  one  to  two  points,  as  in  degree.  If  the  prima- 
ries be  white,  it  is  cut  a  point  for  each  wing;  but  this  does  not  include 
the  narrow  outer  edge,  which  should  be  white.  If  the  secondaries 
be  black  on  outside  web,  "  failing  to  round  the  tip  of  the  feather  so 
as  to  give  the  scallop  finish  to  the  secondaries  when  folded,"  it  is 
cut  one-half  to  one  point;  if  secondaries  be  white,  it  is  cut  two 
points;  if  the  white  center  of  coverts  be  penciled,  the  cut  is  one-half 
to  one  point,  as  in  degree;  if  the  coverts  be  wholly  white,  the  cut  is 
two  points.  If  the  tail  be  pointed,  like  the  Cochin,  it  is  cut  one 
point;  if  the  tail  proper  be  tinged  with  white,  one-half  to  two  points, 
as  in  degree;  if  straw  color  or  bronze  appear  on  the  coverts,  it  is  cut 
one  point;  if  the  tail  be  carried  upright,  one  point,  and  when  squirrel 
fashion,  it  is  one  to  one  and  a  half  points. 

In  nearly  all  other  sections,  especially  of  form,  the  female  is 
judged  and  cut  for  defects  like  the  male.  As  a  crooked  breast  bone 
has  much  weight  in  breeding,  it  should  be  cut  two  points  in  the 
female,  as  well  as  the  male.  The  female  has  less  defects  in  form, 
and  suffers  most  from  penciling  and  indistinct  lacing.  Proper  care 
and  good  food  will  help  much  to  put  fowls  in  good  condition  of 
flesh  and  plumage  for  the  show  room.  If  raised  in  a  close  pen, 
without  regard  to  cleanliness  and  proper  food  to  enrich  the  plumage, 
the  pullets  at  the  second  moult  will  not  shed  clean,  and  many  of  the 
old  feathers  will  become  rusty  and  mar  the  remaining  plumage, 
when  it  is  closely  examined  in  the  judge's  hands.  Of  course  the 
comb,  face,  wattles  and  shanks  should  be  cleansed  with  a  mixture  of 
alcohol  and  water,  into  which  some  pieces  of  castile  soap  may  be 
put;  then,  with  a  nail  brush,  cleanse  the  dirt  and  scurf  from  head 
and  scales  of  legs  and  anoint  with  a  little  alcohol  and  olive  oil,  to 
brighten  and  keep  the  parts  from  cracking,  or  becoming  dry  and 


38  WYANDOTTES. 

rough.  Green  food,  a  little  meat,  some  flax  seed  and  also  sunflower 
seed,  a  few  weeks  before  show  time,  will  help  to  put  the  plumage 
in  a  more  presentable  condition. 


PART  SECOND. 


GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES, 


ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 

It  was  evident  from  the  hearty  reception  of  the  Silver  Wyan- 
dottes,  under  the  name  American  Sebrights,  that  some  of  our  enter- 
prising fanciers  would,  ere  long,  begin  to  experiment  with  the  view 
of  producing  a  Golden  variety;  one  that  would  share  public  favor 
and  add  another  laurel  to  the  brow  of  American  skill.  True,  such 
an  idea  was  not  original,  seeing  that  several  varieties  of  our  standard 
breeds,  both  laced  and  spangled,  are  plumed  in  a  rich  golden  dress, 
which  adds  much  beauty  and  value  to  their  respective  families. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  idea  of  a  Golden  American  Sebright 
had  entered  the  minds  of  several  fanciers  at  an  early  day,  and  that 
they  proceeded,  on  different  lines  of  crossing,  to  obtain  the  desired 
object.  However,  it  was  reserved  for  Mr.  Joseph  McKeen,  a  vete- 
ran fancier  of  Omro,  Wis.,  to  achieve  marked  success  in  originating 
and  bringing  forward  a  Golden  variety,  with  all  the  leading  charac- 
teristics of  the  Silver  Wyandottes. 

The  well-earned  reputation  which  followed  the  introduction  of 
the  Golden  variety,  after  years  of  crossing  other  fowls  to  obtain  a 
product  worthy  of  crossing  on  the  American  Sebrights,  which  would 
insure  desired  points  and  fix  them  in  the  new  variety,  Mr.  McKeen 
accepts  with  becoming  modesty;  and  while  others  have  striven  to 
take  shorter  paths,  by  using  Golden  Hamburgs,  Partridge  Cochins, 
Rose-Comb  Leghorns,  and,  in  some  strains,  Black-Breasted  Red 
Games,  or  Brown-Red  Games,  it  is  much  to  his  credit  that  no  jeal- 
ousy exists  on  his  part,  or  on  the  part  of  other  workers  in  the  same 
direction,  so  far  as  we  know. 

The  Golden  Wyandottes,  like  all  new-made  varieties,  had  not 
been  brought  to  that  degree  of  excellence  which  the  fancier  judge 
would  call  perfect,  when  the  variety  was  admitted  to  the  Standard. 
We  examined  some  specimens  on  exhibition,  and  although  they 
showed  yellow  on  earlobes,  faulty  combs,  dull  yellow  or  bay  ground 


40  WYANDOTTES. 

color,  the  material  was  there  for  a  handsome  and  useful  fowl.  It 
could,  in  truth,  be  said  that  they  had  less  glaring  faults  than  some 
of  the  Silvers  which  were  exhibited  in  1883. 

Perfection  in  standard  points  must  be  reached  by  slow  and  sure 
improvement.  Rich  and  mellow  though  it  be,  the  ground  color  can 
with  advantage  be  made  richer,  and  pure  golden  take  the  place  of 
light  yellow  or  buff;  the  lacing,  too,  can  be  much  improved  by  a  rich 
metallic  black,  in  place  of  dark  brown  or  sooty  black.  From  time 
to  time,  as  the  variety  grows  older,  and  stronger  competition  is  met 
in  the  show  room,  improvement  of  one  point  or  another  will  show 
itself  to  the  breeder  and  judge.  Our  tastes  improve  with  our  breed- 
ing, in  the  same  manner  that  our  skill  and  intellect  improve  with 
our  experience  and  study.  We  are  growing  more  aesthetic  every 
day  in  our  tastes,  and  demand  better  specimens  of  standard  breeds 
than  in  times  past,  when  our  tastes  were  on  a  level  with  our  environ- 
ment. 

No  doubt  Mr.  McKeen,  and  other  fanciers  who  conceived  the 
idea  of  originating  a  Golden  variety  of  Wyandottes,  had  this  ultimate 
view  in  mind.  To  such  men,  there  is  a  satisfaction  and  pleasure 
beyond  the  cash  value,  which  such  stock  is  sure  to  bring  sooner  or 
later.  As  fanciers,  they  knew  well  it  would  take  time  to  bring  per- 
fection about,  and  it  must  come  by  slow  degrees,  and  without  dis- 
turbing those  already  fixed.  The  material  is  there;  the  form  and 
structure  already  molded;  the  make  up  suggests  comeliness  and 
usefulness;  a  modification  or,  if  you  please,  a  "go  between"  the 
Asiatic  and  European  types,  which  seems- so  well  adapted  to  the  size 
and  practical  value  of  the  variety. 

The  history  of  the  Golden  Wyandottes  is  so  well  known  to  old 
fanciers  that  a  repetition  would  not  be  attempted,  were  it  not  that 
we  have  been  favored  with  a  full  and  correct  account  of  the  material 
and  the  manner  of  crossing  to  obtain  the  breed  designated  "  Winne- 
bagoes,"  which  was  used  as  a  top  cross  on  the  Whittaker  strain  of 
Silver  Wyandottes,  written  by  Mr.  Joseph  McKeen,  specially  for 
this  book.  As  there  are  many  points  of  interest  in  relation  to  the 
Winnebagoes  that  are  new  and  never  before  published,  we  will  give 
his  statements  in  full: 

"  Some  parties  that  have  written  on  the  Golden  Wyandottes  for 
publication  in  the  poultry  papers,  the  past  few  years,  have  been 
pretty  near  correct  in  their  statements  in  regard  to  their  origin, 
characteristics,  etc.,  but  are  a  little  in  error  in  supposing  that  the 
*  Winnebagoes,'  the  top  cross  on  the  American  Sebright  to  produce 


GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES — HISTORY.  41 

the  Golden  Wyandottes,  had  been  bred  for  a  long  time  in  Wiscon- 
sin. How  they  formed  this  opinon  I  do  not  know,  as  there  is  noth- 
ing in  my  writing  or  circulars  that  would  lead  to  such  a  conclusion. 

"  I  am  aware  that  many  breeders  of  Golden  Wyandottes  are 
intensely  anxious  to  know  more  about  the  Winnebagoes,  the  quality 
of  their  foundation  blood,  the  material  and  characteristics  which  en- 
tered their  composition.  The  following  facts  will  throw  some  light 
on  the  subject:  A  few  years  prior  to  the  time  I  began  to  breed  the 
Golden  Wyandottes,  I  was  breeding  Pea-Comb  Partridge  Cochins, 
and  Single-Comb  Brown  Leghorns;  I  also  procured  some  eggs  of 
the  Rose-Comb  Brown  Leghorn  variety  from  T.  J.  McDaniel,  South 
Hollis,  Me.  He  did  not  claim  that  they  were  pure-blood  Leghorns, 
but  were  crossed  with  a  fowl,  about  the  same  color,  that  had  a  rose- 
comb  and  red  earlobes,  called  '  York  County '  fowls. 

u  I  had  these  Partridge  Cochins,  Brown  Leghorns  and  Rose- 
Comb  Leghorns  together,  and  selected  those  that  had  the  best 
rose  combs,  cleanest  yellow  legs  and  reddest  earlobes.  I  selected  a 
large  cockerel  that  had  a  good  rose  comb,  clean  yellow  legs,  red  ear- 
lobes,  and  plumage  about  the  same  as  a  Partridge  Cochin  male. 
I  bred  this  cockerel  on  some  mongrel  Buff  Cochin  hens  that  came 
into  existence  in  the  following  way:  Some  time  about  1872  or  '73,  I 
was  breeding  some  fine  Buff  Cochins  and  Golden  Sebright  Bantams. 
I  let  a  family  named  O'Neil  have  some  eggs  of  both  these  varieties; 
they  raised  the  chickens  and  let  them  run  together  with  some 
medium-sized  common  fowls  on  a  farm.  A  few  years  after  this,  I 
found,  with  the  O'Neil  family,  Buff  Cochins  with  yellow  legs,  rose- 
combs,  light  leg  feathering,  and  a  slight  show  of  lacing  on  some 
specimens.  I  bred  the  Partridge  Cochin-Brown  Leghorn  cockerel, 
above  mentioned,  on  some  of  these  Buff  hens,  and  the  result  was 
some  cockerels  of  a  very  deep  buff,  all  but  the  tail,  and  that  was  a 
shiny  green  black,  with  rose-comb  and  clean,  yellow  legs.  Dorsey 
Smith,  agent  for  the  American  Express  Company,  at  Waukau,  Wis., 
bought  one  of  these  cockerels  of  me  about  ten  years  ago,  and  has 
bred  a  number  like  him  since.  The  pullets  were  of  a  kind  of  buff 
color  with  more  or  less  penciling  or  lacing.  My  farm  I  called  '  The 
Winnebago  Poultry  Farm,'  and  as  these  fowls  were  raised  there,  I 
called  them 'Winnebagoes.'  Now,  from  what  I  have  written,  we 
deduce  these  facts:  that  the  Winnebagoes,  the  top  cross  to  produce 
Golden  Wyandottes,  have  Pea-Comb  Partridge  Cochin,  Rose  and 
Single-Comb  Brown  Leghorn,  Buff  Cochin,  and  I  have  reason  to 
believe,  a  very  little  Golden  Sebright  Bantam  blood  in  them,  no 


42  WYANDOTTES 

Game  blood,  as  some  suppose.  I  believe  that  the  Golden  Wyan- 
dottes  in  the  east  have  Game  blood  in  them." 

Mr.  McKeen  began  the  task  of  originating  Golden  Wyandottes 
in  1880.  His  strain  comes  nearer  to  the  Silver  Wyandottes,  in 
standard  points,  than  the  strains  which  have  been  produced  by  other 
parties.  At  an  early  day,  G.  L.  Van  Buskirk,  Odell,  ill.,  experi- 
mented with  the  view  of  producing  Golden  Wyandottes;  also  W.  E. 
Shed,  Waltham,  Mass.,  Jacob  Ryder,  Waynsboro,  Pa.,  and  Ira  C. 
Keller,  Tiffin,  Ohio.  Each  of  these  fanciers,  it  is  said,  used  Golden 
Hamburgs,  Partridge  Cochins  and  Silver  Wyandottes  in  the  forma- 
tion of  their  respective  products,  but  neither  was  so  successful  as  Mr. 
McKeen. 

The  Golden  Wyandotte  was  admitted  to  the  American  Stand- 
ard, at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  January,  1888.  It  was  a  surprise  to  many 
fanciers  to  see  so  young  a  variety  admitted  to  honors  without  any 
opposition.  They  were  very  popular  and  promised  to  be  a  valuable 
acquisition  to  our  stock.  A  number  of  new  breeds  had  been  pro- 
posed for  admission,  and  it  would  be  impolitic  to  refuse  such  a 
promising  variety,  while  so  many  native  and  foreign  varieties  were 
being  admitted. 

GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

As  a  variety  of  the  Wyandotte  family,  the  Golden  is  a  promis- 
ing fowl,  not  alone  for  its  transcendent  beauty,  but  also  for  its  gen- 
eral usefulness.  It  has  all  the  merits  of  the  Silvers,  and  an  addi- 
tional one  of  rich  and  unique  plumage,  as  irridescent  as  that  of  the 
Black-Red  Game.  It  was  a  favorite  with  many  before  it  became  a 
standard  variety,  but  it  was  difficult  to  procure  any  birds  or  eggs 
until  their  breeders  were  satisfied  that  they  could  offer  them  in  good 
faith  to  the  public  and  feel  confident  of  giving  general  satisfaction. 
To  this  reserved  policy  we  are  indebted  for  so  few  poor  birds 
having  been  offered  for  sale;  and,  if  the  same  safeguards  had  been 
thrown  around  the  other  recently-admitted  varieties,  we  would  have 
avoided  many  of  the  sales  and  the  propagation  of  inferior  and  mon- 
grel birds,  and,  also,  many  of  the  complaints  which  followed. 

The  merits  claimed  for  the  Golden  variety  do  not  trench  on 
those  of  the  Silver,  nor  lessen  their  inestimable  qualities.  On  the 
contrary,  the  Golden  adds  much  to  the  popularity  of  the  whole 
family,  as  the  White  Wyandotte  enhances  the  value  of  its  parti- 
colored cousins.  The  Black,  too,  has  its  own  special  merits;  each 
thus  fulfilling  its  own  mission  and  sphere  of  usefulness,  and  giving 


GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES — CHARACTERISTICS.  43 

pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  their  admirers.  This  is  the  carrying 
out  of  the  law  of  compensation,  which  gives  to  every  variety  some 
special  merit. 

The  Golden  Wyandotte  has  an  attractive  plumage,  in  addition 
to  its  intrinsic  qualities.  If  one  were  to  judge  its  future  by  its 
growing  popularity,  it  is  certain  that  it  will  take  the  lead  in  the 
American  class,  because  it  is  robed  in  colors  which  convey  to  the 
eye  and  taste  a  richer  plumage,  one  more  admired  for  its  rarity 
among  domestic  fowls,  one  which  captivates  the  visitor  to  the  exhi- 
bition room,  and  the  amateur  of  taste  who  beholds  them  on  the 
fanciers'  well-kept  lawn.  With  all  these  outside  merits,  they  are  no 
better  layers  than  the  Silver,  White  or  Black;  with  all  the  beauty 
of  plumage,  they  do  not  excel  the  other  members  in  flavor,  sweetness 
and  tenderness  of  flesh.  Some  fanciers  claim  for  them  superior 
merits,  and  say  they  possess  a  stronger  and  hardier  constitution,  are 
surer  stock  getters,  grow  faster,  and  are  less  liable  to  the  common 
ills  of  poultry.  They  base  these  claims  on  the  material  that  was 
added  to  the  Silver  breed,  in  order  to  produce  the  golden  plumage. 

We  will  not  discuss  these  claims,  as  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt 
them,  and  prefer  the  testimony  of  breeders  who  have  made  careful 
comparisons,  covering  a  number  of  years.  There  are  many  ardent 
admirers  of  the  Golden  Wyandottes,  besides  their  breeders,  who  sug- 
gest a  reduction  of  weight;  that  it  is  a  drag-chain,  which  has  kept 
them  back  from  the  beginning;  that  their  beauty  would  show  to 
better  advantage  if  united  with  a  more  tidy  and  graceful  carriage; 
that  the  grossness  of  size  and  shape  is  too  suggestive  of  Asiatic;  that 
a  reduction  of  a  pound,  at  least,  would  increase  their  fertility,  and 
render  their  flesh  more  tender  and  succulent;  that  the  day  of  huge 
carcasses  is  over,  and  sensible  breeders  have  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  grossness  of  size  is  incompatible  with  fertility,  flavor  and  deli- 
cacy of  flesh,  and  with  our  improved  sesthetic  tastes. 

With  our  experience,  covering  nearly  half  a  century,  in  the  breed- 
ing and  study  of  domestic  fowls ;  our  travels  abroad,  pursuing  the 
same  study;  gleaning  information  on  the  most  noted  breeds  of  Eu- 
rope, North  Africa,  Western  and  Southern  Asia,  and  the  Indian  Ar- 
chipelago, while  engaged  in  the  interests  of  ornithology  with  our 
distinguished  cousin,  well  known  as  an  eminent  naturalist;  we  are 
free  to  confess,  it  is  our  humble  opinion,  that  when  breeds  or 
varieties  are  bred  with  the'  ultimate  view  of  increasing  their  size 
beyond  the  growth  of  the  average-sized  birds,  as  they  develop  in 
the  broods,  with  their  abnormal  growth,  there  is  a  corresponding 


44  WYANDOTTES. 

decrease  in  the  fertility  of  the  hens,  and,  also,  in  the  prepotent 
functions  of  the  male;  or,  in  other  words,  grossness  of  size,  in  male 
or  female,  is  tantamount  to  a  decrease  in  production,  and  in  fertili- 
zation of  that  production. 

This  is  not  our  first  time  in  giving  such  an  opinion  to  the 
fraternity,  for,  every  spring,  when  suggesting  something  on  mating 
or  egg  production,  we  deplore  and  condemn  grossness,  as  being 
antagonistic  to  precociousness  and  fertility,  and  our  views  have 
passed  unchallenged.  The  same  law  holds  good  among  the  larger 
species  of  animals  and  plants;  it  is  nature's  law  of  distribution,  or- 
ganization, compensation  and  deduction.  Our  Asiatic  and  American 
classes  would  be  more  valuable  as  egg-producers  and  stock-getters, 
if  a  pound  or  more  would  be  taken  off  their  standard  weights.  We 
suggest  this  advisedly  and  disinterestedly,  as  we  are  not  at  present 
breeding  any  of  the  varieties  of  either  class. 

It  is  well  known  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  to  what  extremes 
English  fanciers  have  indulged,  in  the  past  decade.  The  excessive 
development  to  which  they  have  brought  Asiatics,  Plymouth  Rocks 
and  Wyandottes,  has  been  marked  by  a  large  decrease  in  the  num- 
ber and  fertility  of  eggs.  The  same  complaint  is  heard  throughout 
the  land  regarding  the  failure  of  Cochin  eggs  to  hatch  well.  A 
similar  complaint  arose  in  this  country  a  decade  ago,  and  while 
there  was  a  premium  on  abnormal  size  and  weight.  Mr.  Isaac  K. 
Felch,  whose  experience  in  poultry  is  second  to  none  on  this  conti- 
nent, favors  natural  weight  in  the  large  varieties,  as  he  has  witnessed 
hundreds  of  cases,  showing  vast  improvement  in  production  and 
fertilization,  since  extra  points  for  weight  have  been  abrogated  in 
the  Standard. 

Since  the  English  fancier  has  taken  to  the  breeding  of  Plymouth 
Rocks  and  Wyandottes,  size  is  a  leading  fad,  and  is  detrimental  to 
plumage  and  other  points.  The  coarseness  of  their  Plymouth 
Rocks,  almost  verging  on  the  Asiatic,  shows  the  English  predilection 
for  excessive  development.  In  the  same  manner,  the  fanciers  of 
Wyandottes  are  breeding  them  to  individual  types,. and  to  suit  indi- 
vidual judges.  A  small  English  work  on  Wyandottes  before  us 
says  that  "  The  types  of  Silver  Wyandottes,  as  seen  in  England,  are 
as  numerous  as  the  colors  of  the  rainbow."  Again,  it  says  :  "  The 
failings  or  faults  of  Silver  Wyandottes,  as  found  in  England,  are 
really  very  numerous — so  numerous,  in  fact,  that  one  seldom  sees  a 
good  bird.  The  reason  is,  that  English  judges  and  breeders  have, 
until  recently,  been  going  for  an  entirely  wrong  type  throughout." 


GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES — CHARACTERISTICS.  45 

Speaking  of  the  Golden  variety,  it  says  :  "  As  generally  shown, 
Goldens  will  compare  favorably  with  Silvers  in  point  of  merit,  and 
individual  males  and  females  have  been  seen  far  surpassing  in 
quality  any  of  the  Silvers  yet  exhibited.  This  I  put  down  to  the 
fact  of  the  'Goldens'  not  having  been  in  England  long  enough  to 
be  spoilt;  but  I  am  afraid  to  say  how  long  it  will  be  before  they  are, 
as,  even  this  year,  the  pullets  are  a  very  long  way  behind  those 
exhibited  by  Mr.  Geffcken  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  and  elsewhere,  in 
1888." 

The  Golden  Wyandotte  has  been  much  improved  the  past  few 
years,  in  this  country  ;  the  jaundiced  yellow  ground  work  has 
given  place  to  rich  yellow  or  golden  bay.  The  male  has  the  same 
short,  flat  and  broad  crown  as  the  Silver,  White  and  Black  Wyan- 
dottes,  but  the  color  of  plumage  is  rich  yellow  or  golden  bay;  eyes 
and  beak  the  same  color  as  those  of  the  Silver;  shape,  size  and 
points  of  comb  the  same;  ear-lobes  and  wattles  the  same  in  size, 
form  and  color;  neck,  hackles,  back,  breast,  body  and  fluff  the  same 
in  form  and  development,  only  differing  in  plumage,  which  is  golden 
and  deep  reddish  bay,  the  fluff  slightly  tinged  with  yellow;  wings, 
legs  and  tail  the  same  as  corresponding  parts  in  the  Silver,  differing 
only  in  the  outer  web  of  the  primaries  being  edged  with  buff  or 
golden  bay,  outer  half  of  the  lower  web  of  secondaries,  golden  bay; 
lower  web  of  wing  coverts,  deep  buff  or  golden  bay;  wing  bows,  deep 
reddish  bay;  web  of  shoulder  coverts,  deep,  rich  red;  thighs,  tinged 
with  yellow;  the  edging  of  lesser  tail  coverts,  reddish  bay  being 
permissable.  The  Golden  is  exactly  the  same  as  the  Silver  in  stand- 
ard points,  except  color;  yellow,  golden  bay,  and  deep  reddish  bay, 
take  the  place  of  white  and  silvery  white;  under- color,  dark  slate, 
tinged  with  yellow. 

As  there  is  a  promising  and  wide  field  before  the  Golden  Wyan- 
dottes,  owing  to  their  rich  and  attractive  plumage,  we  will  offer  a 
few  suggestions  on  description  and  judging,  which  will  also  aid  the 
novice  in  his  efforts  to  become  more  familiar  with  the  form  and 
color  points  of.  the  variety.  And,  as  the  plumage  of  the  Golden  is 
the  counterpart  of  that  of  the  Silver,  with  the  exception  of  the 
ground  color,  as  above  stated,  which  is  golden  bay  instead  of  silvery 
white,  a  minute  description  of  the  Golden  is  unnecessary.  How- 
ever, we  will  mention  the  defects  in  each  section,  and  the  cuts 
which  should  be  inflicted  in  each  case,  thus  making  it  as  valuable 
and  instructive  to  the  novice  as  if  we  were  to  devote  a  special 
chapter  on  judging. 


46  WYANDOTTES. 

DESCRIPTION,  DEFECTS  AND  CUTS. 

It  is  to  be  understood  that. the  type  of  the  Golden  Wyandottes 
must  conform  to  that  of  the  Silver,  as  explained  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  and  each  section,  in  form,  must  also  comply  with  the  stand- 
ard for  Silvers. 

HEAD.-^-The  shape  of  head  with  its  broad  crown  is  the  same  as 
that  of  the  Silvers,  and  all  defects  in  shape  are  cut  the  same  point 
or  points  as  given  in  judging  Silver  Wyandottes.  Defects — Narrow 
on  crown,  pointed  or  snaky,  long  and  wedge  shaped,  like  that  of 
Games;  cut,  one  point. 

Eyes,  bay  in  color.  Defects — Grey,  yellow  or  red,  or  other  color 
than  bay;  cut,  one  point. 

Beak,  nicely  curved,  dark  horn  color,  shading  to  yellow  at  the 
point.  Defects — Flat  beak,  cavernous,  as  in  crested  fowls,  wholly 
black;  ,cut,  one  point  for  each  defect. 

Comb,  rose,  low,  not  quite  as  wide  at  base  as  crown;  top,  oval 
in  shape,  surface  covered  with  corrugations,  and  terminating  in  a 
small  spike  at  the  rear;  the  whole  comb  curving  slightly,  so  as  to 
take  the  form  of  the  skull;  color,  bright  red.  Defects — Too  large, 
stubby,  surface  unevenly  corrugated,  hollows  in  surface,  spike  of 
bad  shape,  spike  turning  upward,  spike  pressing  on  neck,  absence 
of  spike;  cut,  from  one-half  to  three  points,  as  in  degree. 

Wattles,  medium  length,  nicely  rounded,  and  bright  red  in 
color.  Defects — Wrinkled,  torn,  disfigured  by  frost,  both  wattles 
missing;  cut,  one-half  to  two  points. 

Ear-lobes,  bright  red,  and  well  developed.  Defects — White  or 
yellow  enamel  on  surface,  so  as  to  appear  permanent;  wholly  covered 
with  enamel  disqualifies;  cut,  one  to  three  points,  as  in  degree. 

Color  of  plumage,  rich  yellow  or  golden  bay.  Defects — Pale 
yellow;  cut,  one  half  to  one  point. 

NECK. — The  same  length,  form  and  curve  as  that  of  Silvers. 
Defects — The  same  as  stated  before;  cuts  for  the  same  defects  and 
in  the  same  proportion,  according  to  the  degree.  This  holds  good 
throughout  all  the  sections. 

Plumage,  golden  bay,  each  feather  having  a  clear  black  stripe 
through  the  center  thereof,  and  tapering  to  a  point  at  the  extremity. 
Defects — Other  color  than  golden  bay,  lacing  obliterated  two-fifths 
of  length,  smutty  hackle,  loss  of  black  stripe,  stripe  without  lustre, 
scant  hackle;  cut,  in  degree,  as  in  Silvers. 

BACK. — The  same  in  length,  width  and  form  as  that  of  the 


GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES — DESCRIPTION.  47 

Silvers.  Defects — The  same  as  stated  before;  cuts  for  defects  and 
in  the  same  proportion,  according  to  degree,  as  for  Silvers. 

Plumage,  deep  reddish  bay,  the  saddle  having  a  black  stripe 
through  the  center  of  each  feather,  as  in  hackle.  Defects— Other 
color  than  reddish  bay,  stripe  without  lustre,  reddish  bay  lacing 
tinged  with  white,  penciling  on  lacing,  smutty  back,  saddle  void  of 
black  stripe,  white  in  under-color,  or  other  defects;  cut,  in  the  same 
manner  as  in  Silvers. 

BREAST. — The  same  as  that  of  the  Silvers.  Plumage,  under- 
color, slate,  slightly  tinged  with  yellow;  the  web  black,  with  medium- 
sized  golden  bay  centers,  which  taper  to  a  point  near  the  end. 
Defects — Outer  edging  tinged  with  golden,  black  penciling  in  cen- 
ters, centers  light  in  color,  too  dark  at  throat,  centers  indistinct, 
other  color  of  centers  than  golden  bay,  other  color  than  slate  tinged 
with  yellow  in  under-color;  cut,  in  the  same  manner  as  in  Silvers. 

BODY  AND  FLUFF. — The  same  as  in  Silvers,  Plumage,  under- 
color, the  same  as  breast;  web  of  feather,  black,  or  black  tinged  with 
reddish  bay;  fluff,  dark  slate,  and  tinged  with  yellow.  Defects — 
Are  less  in  this  section  than  breast  or  back;  sooty  back,  absence  of 
yellow  on  fluff,  lightness  of  color,  white  in  under-color,  and  such 
defects  as  would  detract  from  standard  requirements;  cut,  in  the 
same  manner  as  in  Silvers. 

WINGS. — The  same  in  size,  shape  and  manner  of  being  carried, 
as  that  of  the  Silvers.  Plumage,  deep  buff  or  golden  bay  on  the 
lower  or  outer  edge  of  the  primaries,  where  it  is  white  in  the  Silvers; 
the  other  part  of  the  primaries  is  black;  secondaries  are  also  black, 
with  outer  half  of  the  lower  web  golden  bay,  where  it  is  white  in 
Silvers;  wing  coverts,  the  upper  web  black,  the  lower  web  golden 
bay,  with  a  narrow  black  stripe  on  the  edge,  which  widens  as  it 
comes  near  the  tips,  thus  forming  a  double  spangled  bar  across  the 
wing;  wing-bows  are  a  deep  reddish  bay;  shoulder  coverts — web  of 
feather  deep  rich  red,  and  under-color  slate.  So  it  is  seen  that 
reddish  bay  takes  the  place  of  silvery  white  on  wing  bows,  and  web 
red  in  place  of  white  in  Silvers.  Defects — bows  too  dark,  want  of 
bars,  penciled  on  secondaries,  smutty  bars,  black  on  outer  edge  of 
primaries,  white  in  under-color,  light  buff  on  primaries,  indistinct 
bars  or  black  running  into  bay,  and  such  defects  as  mentioned  be- 
fore by  substituting  golden  bay  for  silvery  white;  cut,  in  the  same 
manner  as  in  Silvers. 

TAIL. — The  same  in  form  and  furnishing  as  that  of  the  Silvers, 
and  the  same  throughout  except  the  edging  of  reddish  bay  on  the 


48  WYANDOTTES. 

coverts  following  the  color  of  the  saddle.  Defects — The  same,  and 
cut  the  same  for  too  much  red  or  white  appearing  in  tail,  or  other 
faults. 

LEGS  AND  TOES. — The  same  as  in  Silvers.  Defects  and  cuts 
the  same. 

THE  FEMALE. — As  the  female  Golden  Wyandotte  is  judged  on 
the  same  principle  of  scoring  as  the  female  of  Silvers,  and,  as  there 
will  be  found  in  both  male  and  female  a  little  more  irregularity  in 
the  divisions  of  the  colors,  they  will,  for  some  time  to  come,  be 
judged  a  little  more  severely  than  their  cousins.  The  female  Silver 
Wyandotte  is  more  favored,  so  to  say,  by  the  character  of  the 
defects,  as  they  are  usually  of  the  nature  of  reddish  and  bronze 
shadings,  pencilings,  under-color  light,  white  in  tail,  too  much  stripe 
on  neck,  back  mossy,  lacing  on  breast  not  going  all  around,  and  a 
white  edging  to  black  lacing  with  under-color  light;  the  female  of 
the  Golden  variety  will  show  defects  which  will  be  much  harder  to 
breed  out,  as  the  golden  color  may  be  marred  by  pencilings,  even 
double  pencilings,  as  in  the  Cornish  Indian  Game,  in  some  speci- 
mens already  reported  in  England;  light  shadings,  or  white  in 
under-color  and  tail,  and  the  black  stripes  and  lacings,  are  subject 
to  the  same  slaty  or  rusty  shadings  as  the  Silvers,  and,  of  course, 
such  defects  should  have  similar  cuts. 

We  have  given  as  much  information  on  judging  as  our  limited 
space  will  allow.  In  fact,  we  have  transcended  the  limit  set  apart 
for  the  Silvers  and  Goldens,  on  account  of  the  colors  and  their 
distribution  over  the  whole  plumage.  Solid  colored  breeds  do  not 
need  so  much  space  for  description,  mating  and  judging,  as  there  is 
but  one  color  to  describe,  and  the  defects  may  be  readily  judged, 
as  they  usually  accompany  one  color;  but,  in  the  Silver  and  Golden 
Wyandottes,  new  defects  may  come  up  any  time,  as  the  colors  are 
not  thoroughly  and  permanently  established,  and  the  same  class  of 
defects  is  not  always  present.  "This  complication  of  color,  or, 
rather,  combining  a  penciled  and  spangled  race,  out  of  which  to 
establish  a  lace  plumage,  has  been  no  easy  matter."  In  all  the  exhi- 
bitions, the  examination  of  the  scores  of  males  show  the  largest  cut  to 
be  in  neck,  breast,  and  body  or  wings,  the  latter  ruling  the  highest, 
while  in  females  they  cut  heavily  in  breast  and  body,  neck  and  back. 
A  man  who  can  correctly  judge  Silver  and  Golden  Wyandottes,  has 
laid  a  good  and  promising  foundation  for  becoming  a  first-class  "  all 
round  "  poultry  judge. 


PART  THIRD. 


BLACK  WYANDOTTES. 


ORIGIN  AND   HISTORY. 

The  Black  Wyandotte  is  the  last  addition  to  the  Wyandotte 
family,  and  has  proved  a  worthy  member  in  comeliness  and  utility. 
No  family  in  the  Standard  can  show  such  evenness  in  size,  type  and 
general  characteristics  as  the  Wyandotte.  There  is  not  a  good  or 
poor  quality  in  one  that  is  not  found  in  the  other,  and,  what  is  most 
singular,  two  varieties  of  the  family  are  "  sports,"  and  two  have 
been  made  by  composite  crosses.  The  unity  of  standard  points  is 
not  accidental,  but  rather  due  to  intelligent  and  harmonious  views 
on  the  part  of  their  breeders,  to  make  all  uniform  in  every  standard 
point,  save  color. 

The  Black  Wyandotte  is  bred  in  a  quiet  way,  and  handled  by 
some  experienced  breeders.  It  is  not  likely  to  create  a  stir  among 
fanciers  when  it  becomes  a  Standard  variety,  and  takes  its  place 
with  its  older  cousins ;  there  are  so  many  handsome  varieties 
belonging  to  the  family,  which  will  attract,  please  and  satisfy  many, 
who  will  not  transfer  their  liking  to  a  black  fowl.  It  will,  however, 
have  many  warm  friends,  and  those  who  are  at  all  partial  to  black, 
will  be  sure  to  breed  the  Black  variety,  and  many  will,  in  years  to 
come,  make  a  specialty  of  Wyandottes,  and  breed  all  varieties. 

Black  Wyandottes  are  bred  in  a  limited  way,  owing  to  a  divison 
among  breeders  as  to  the  color  of  their  legs.  Some  are  striving  to 
establish  a  yellow  leg,  so  as  to  be  uniform  in  this,  as  well  as  in  other 
standard  points,  with  other  members  of  the  family;  and,  besides 
the  addition  of  yellow  legs  will  make  them  more  valuable  for  market 
or  fancy  sale,  more  attractive  on  the  lawn  and  in  the  show-room, 
and  set  off  the  rich  black  plumage  and  red  of  head'  to  better  advan- 
tage. The  majority  of  Black  Wyandotte  breeders  is  in  favor  of 
breeding  them  with  yellow  legs,  although  it  is  well  known  to  be  a 


50  WYANDOTTES. 

hard  task  to  fix  them  on  a  black  fowl,  without  sacrificing  color; 
white  appearing  at  times  in  under-color,  wings  and  tail. 

Every  naturalist  knows  that  black  fowls  do  not,  as  a  rule,  have 
yellow  legs  ;  and  every  naturalist  knows  that  by  far  the  greater 
number  of  standard  varieties  do  not  follow  nature  in  their  standard 
points;  all  are,  more  or  less,  artificially  bred  from  comb  to  tail;  a 
constant  watchfulness,  culling  and  selection  being  kept  up,  year 
after  year,  to  prevent  natural  colors,  natural  type  and  facial  ap- 
pendages appearing  in  the  broods.  This  is  conceded,  then,  in  the 
case  of  Black  Wyandottes  :  a  dusky  leg  would  be  more  natural  to 
the  variety,  fewer  disappointments  in  breeding  would  occur;  novices 
could  take  up  their  breeding  with  reasonable  expectations  of  success, 
and  feel  assured  of  rarely  seeing  light  under-color  or  white  in  the 
plumage. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  claimed  that  breeding  Black  Wyandottes 
with  yellow  legs  saves  the  variety  from  deterioration,  as  those  with 
black  legs  may  or  may  not  be  pure,  and  no  variety  can  be  so  readily 
"  made  up  to  order  "  as  Black  Wyandottes  with  dark  legs.  A  Black 
Wyandotte  mated  with  very  dark  Plymouth  Rock  hens,  or  Black 
Javas,  will,  in  a  few  generations,  pass  muster  for  Black  Wyandottes, 
and  there  are  scores  of  breeders  and  jobbers  ever  ready  to  turn 
a  quick  sale  to  account,  and  not  over  scrupulous  as  to  the  manner 
of  breeding,  to  obtain  the  black  plumage  and  black  legs. 

Another  point  urged  in  favor  of  yellow  legs  is,  that  as  all  the 
other  varieties  of  Wyandottes  have  bright  bay  eyes  and  yellow  legs, 
it  would  be  odd  to  have  one  of  the  family  differing  from  the  others 
in  color  of  legs.  Some  white  varieties  have  pale  or  flesh-colored 
legs,  and  some  have  blue  ;  and  some  black  varieties  have  yellow 
legs.  Much  depends  on  the  material  used  in  making  a  black  vari- 
ety, or  on  the  stock  from  which  it  is  a  ''sport ; "  that  is  one  great 
cause  which  works  against  a  successful  fixity  of  yellow  legs  in  black 
fowls.  No  doubt,  time  and  patience  will  accomplish  the  breeding  of 
Black  Wyandottes  with  yellow  legs,  and  a  yellow  leg  is  far  prefera- 
ble to  black,  if  too  many  otherwise  splendid  specimens  be  not  sacri- 
ficed annually,  for  so  small  a  matter  as  the  color  of  legs. 

Much  could  be  said  for  and  against  the  question  of  yellow 
legs  in  this  variety.  Personally,  we  much  prefer,  the  yellow  legs, 
for  the  reason  that  it  would  enhance  their  value,  and  lead  many 
amateurs  to  take  up  their  breeding,  who  would  not  be  attracted 
to  them  if  bred  with  black  or  dusky  legs.  Yellow  legs  would  not 
make  them  better  layers,  provided  pure  Wyandottes  were  bred  with 


BLACK  WYANDOTTES — HISTORY.  51 

dark  legs,  agreeably  with  standard  requirements;  but,  if  yellow  legs 
be  the  exception,  and  not  the  rule,  after  eight  or  ten  years  breeding 
in  a  direct  line,  then,  we  say,  dark  legs  should  be  the  standard 
color — the  natural  color,  and  the  easier  color  to  produce.  It  is  by 
no  means  impossible  to  breed  and  maintain  yellow  legs  on  Black 
Wyandottes.  as  many  Black  Leghorns  in  Italy  have  yellow  legs,  and 
that,  too,  without  special  efforts  in  breeding;  but  we  have  noticed, 
at  the  same  time,  that  white  in  wings,  tail  and  under-color  almost 
invariably  accompanied  yellow  legs.  Some  of  the  native  Black 
Games  of  India,  notably  the  Pulligars  have  yellow  legs,  and  forty 
years  ago  many  of  the  Black  Pit  Games  in  Great  Britain  had  yellow 
legs.  Yellow  is  a  tropical  color,  and  yellow  or  tawny  legs  prevail  in 
Southern  Asia  among  domestic  fowls.  Fanciers  have  made  greater 
and  more  difficult  changes  than  yellow  legs  and  have  been  suc- 
cessful. 

It  would  help  the  culture  of  Black  Wyandottes  if  breeders  were 
in  accord  on  the  question  of  yellow  legs  and  disqualifications,  as  it 
would  save  many  otherwise  good  birds  being  put  to  the  block  for 
light  under-color,  discolored  hackles,  and  white  in  wings  or  tail, 
as  in  the  breeding  of  Black  Cochins  some  years  ago.  This  discord 
on  the  question  of  leg  color,  will  work  injury  to  the  variety  and  dis- 
courage many  from  taking  them  up,  as  there  is  no  assurance,  at  pres- 
ent, of  a  final  adoption  of  one  in  preference  to  the  other,  though  it 
is  confidently  surmised  that  the  standard  adopted  will  be  for  dark 
legs;  that  is,  of  the  color  of  Black  Cochins — unless  outside  pressure 
strongly  prevail  on  the  advisability  of  its  adopting  yellow  legs,  as 
being  more  in  accord  with  other  members  of  the  family,  and  being 
more  popular. 

True,  the  advocates  for  dark  legs  on  Black  Wyandottes,  have 
better  grounds  for  their  preference  and  can  appeal  to  nature  and 
precedent,  and  how  the  change  from  yellow  to  dark  has  benefited 
other  black  varieties  and  removed  the  recurring  obstacles  which  fol- 
lowed their  breeding.  A  compromise  can  be  readily  effected,  if  they 
cannot  agree  on  yellow  legs — to  accept  willow,  or  yellowish  black, 
the  standard  for  Black  Leghorns.  The  few  English  fanciers  who 
have  imported  Black  Wyandottes  are  in  favor  of  yellow  legs.  It  is 
not  a  strong  point  to  adduce  some  black  varieties,  as  an  illustration 
to  show  that  Black  Wyandottes  ought  to  have  dark  legs,  as  the 
material  of  which  they  are  partly  composed  reverts  to  dark  or  dusky 
legs  in  the  ancestors,  perhaps  for  hundreds  of  years.  There  are 
exceptions  to  this  rule,  and  Black  Wyaridottes  may  succeed,  though 


52  WYANDOTTES. 

other  black  varieties  have  failed  of  giving  satisfaction,  while  being 
bred  with  yellow  legs. 


GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

The  Black  Wyandotte  has  not  been  thoroughly  tested  in  the 
line  of  breeding,  though  it  is  safe  to  say  that  they  have  come  up  to 
all  reasonable  expectations  so  far.  The  number  of  fairly  good  speci- 
mens, and  the  average  percentage  of  faulty  birds  in  color,  count 
well  in  their  favor;  while  faults  in  shape,  comb,  ear-lobes,  breast  and 
body  do  not  fall  behind  the  Goldens.  This  favorable  showing  on 
the  start  is  mainly  due  to  the  skill  and  experience  of  their  original 
breeders,  as  few  novices  have  taken  a  fancy  to  them,  owing  first  to 
their  color,  and  being  a  non-standard  variety,  and  in  the  next  place, 
there  are  three  other  varieties  of  the  same  class  enjoying  well- merited 
popularity  on  their  handsome  and  unique  plumage  ;  consequently 
the  breeding  of  Blacks  is  mainly  confined  to  old  hands. 

We  presume  to  say,  that  Black  Wyandottes  have  appeared  in 
many  of  the  poultry  yards  the  past  decade,  without  causing  any 
attention.  That  they  are  new  to  the  fancy  is  true  only  in  the  sense 
of  their  not  being  brought  to  public  notice  before.  Breeds  made 
up  of  composite  crosses,  each  element  of  color  struggling  in  the 
combination  for  influence  or  mastery  at  each  transmission  of  the 
collective  elements,  it  is  no  wonder  that  some  individual  element  of 
color  takes  precedence,  or  gains  force  to  subdue,  check  or  hold  in 
abeyance  other  parts  of  the  admixture,  to  triumph  for  awhile  or  for 
an  indefinite  period,  if  assisted  by  the  breeder.  Black  is  a  very 
strong  color,  and  will  assert  itself  in  any  combination  where  it  has 
equal  quantity,  whether  it  be  in  fowls  or  animals. 

We  have  no  doubt  about  the  Black  Wyandottes  holding  their 
own  in  the  show  room,  on  the  nest,  or  in  the  shambles.  They  are 
Wyandottes,  and  color  will  have  little  influence  on  their  usefulness. 
Those  who  know  Wyandottes  by  experience  or  reputation,  will  not 
hesitate  to  breed  the  Blacks,  if  at  all  friendly  to  dark  breeds.  Time 
will  bring  them  to  the  front  rank  with  their  cousins;  and  every  one 
interested  in  poultry  will  know  that  this  family  combination  takes  the 
lead  for  general  usefulness  and,  we  might  say,  beauty,  too.  Fanciers 
will  hardly  stop  and  be  content  when  the  Blacks  take  their  place  in 
the  Standard  roll;  already  there  is  a  veteran  at  work  perfecting  a 
Golden  Spangled  variety  of  Wyandottes  which,  if  we  may  judge  by 
the  specimen  feathers  sent  us,  will  rival  the  Golden  Spangled  Ham- 


BLACK  WYANDOTTES — CHARACTERISTICS.  53 

burg  or  the  Golden  Spangled  Polish  in  purity,  richness  and  sheen 
of  plumage. 

Yes,  the  originator  of  the  Golden  Wyandottes  is  trying  his  hand 
on  a  Spangled  variety.  Fanciers  of  a  practical  turn  of  mind  will 
follow  out  the  old  saying,  "  We  cannot  have  too  much  of  a  good 
thing,"  The  American  Poultry  Association  will  hardly  "kick" 
against  a  few  more  varieties  of  this  class,  seeing  that  the  Polish  has 
eight  and  the  Hamburg  six  varieties.  Surely  a  useful  family  like 
the  Wyandottes  need  a  good  share  of  beauty,  too,  in  order  to  please 
the  fastidious  amateurs,  as  well  as  those  who  desire  usefulness  and 
beauty  combined.  The  Black  with  a  rich,  metallic  sheen,  like  that 
on  a  well-bred  Langshan  or  Black  Hamburg,  will  not  be  the  least 
among  the  great  and  popular  varieties,  as  close  competition  will 
stimulate  their  breeders  to  make  every  effort  to  improve  them  in 
usefulness  and  beautify  them  for  ornamentation. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Blacks  will  be  on  the  roll  of  honor 
when  the  Standard  will  be  open  for  reception  of  new  breeds,  because 
every  member  of  the  American  Poultry  Association  knows  that  a 
Black  variety  in  the  Wyandotte  family  was  possible  any  day  since 
the  advent  of  the  Silvers.  We  are  sure,  too,  that  no  pains  will  be 
spared  to  make  them  worthy  of  Standard  recognition,  as  there  will 
be  no  need  of  spurious  manufacture,  as  was  the  case  in  many 
instances  when  the  Whites  were  booming.  It  is  in  the  breeders' 
own  hands  to  build  up  or  tear  down  this  promising  variety,  and  it  is 
near  time  that  they  should  come  to  an  amicable  and  harmonious 
agreement  on  the  color  of  legs  and  some  other  minor  points,  so 
they  can  make  a  standard,  and  submit  it  for  approval  or  correction, 
and  for  the  best  interests  of  the  variety. 

The  beginner  will  have  comparatively  easy  lessons  in  breeding 
the  Blacks  or  Whites.  People  of  aesthetic  taste  often  wonder  at  the 
different  tastes  of  breeders  ;  one  choosing  this,  and  one  choos- 
ing that,  breed  or  variety.  It  has  ever  been  the  same  way,  and,  in 
all  probability,  it  will  ever  continue  as  in  the  past,  as  it  is  a  part  of 
our  nature,  and  necessary  to  our  existence,  comfort  and  happiness. 
Some  will  always  be  found  ready  to  pick  up  the  first  new  breed  that 
is  announced,  while  others  cannot  be  weaned  from  the  "  old  relia- 
bles," and  more,  will  look  with  distrust  on  every  new  comer,  and 
venture  to  prophesy  a  short  life  for  it;  and  there  are  some  who  are 
jealous  of  every  acquisition  to  our  native  stock,  and  growl  about 
admitting  any  more  to  our  Standard  list,  for  fear  they  will  draw 
patronage  from  their  own  favorite  breeds. 


54  WYANDOTTES. 


DESCRIPTION. 

Some  enterprising  breeders  have  submitted  a  standard  for 
Black  Wyandottes,  to  those  interested,  for  approval  and  correction. 
These  standards  are  good  enough  substantially,  so  far  as  they  go, 
but,  as  they  do  not  voice  the  sentiments  of  all  interested  in  the 
variety,  they  are,  in  a  manner,  useless  to  breeders,  owing  to  the 
uncertainty  of  leg  color,  and  disqualifying  clauses  on  under-color 
and  white  in  plumage.  We  are  met  by  the  same  obstacles  in  giving 
a  detailed  description  of  the  variety,  and,  of  course,  no  standard 
would  be  reliable  but  that  made  under  authority  of  the  American 
Poultry  Association.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  description 
will  be  uniform  with  the  other  three  varieties,  and  the  only  difference 
will  be  that  relating  to  color  of  plumage,  color  of  legs,  and,  also,  the 
clause  in  disqualification,  as  mentioned  before. 

The  precedent  that,  practically,  every  black  variety  in  the 
Standard  has  dark  shanks,  and  that  two,  at  least,  of  said  varieties 
have  had  yellow  legs,  and,  in  the  course  of  their  breeding,  it  was 
found  fruitful  of  many  serious  obstacles  and  faults,  will  be  taken 
into  consideration,  and,  although  every  lover  of  Wyandottes  would 
rather  see  the  Blacks  have  yellow  legs  than  dark  ones,  the  best 
interests  of  the  variety,  so  far  as  breeding  with  better  results,  will 
have  much  weight  against  yellow  legs.  The  standard  for  Black 
Leghorn  legs  is  the  one  most  likely  to  be  adopted. 

THE  MALE. 

In  a  general  way,  we  will  say  to  those  who  have  no  stand- 
ard, and  meditate  breeding  Black  Wyandottes,  that  the  plumage 
should  be  a  rich  glossy  black  throughout,  and  preferable  if  it  has 
that  metallic  lustre  and  beetle  sheen,  so  much  admired  in  well-bred 
Langshans.  The  head,  short,  crown  broad  and  somewhat  flat; 
beak,  dark  horn  color,  shading  to  yellow  at  the  point;  eyes,  bright 
bay,  large  and  clear;  face,  red;  ear-lobes,  bright  red,  and  well 
developed;  comb,  rose,  low,  top  oval,  and  covered  with  points  or 
corrugations,  terminating  in  a  small  spike  which  curves  to  the  shape 
of  skull;  wattles,  bright  red,  medium  length,  and  pendant;  neck, 
short,  arched,  and  hackle  abundant;  back,  short,  flat  and  broad  at 
shoulders;  saddle,  broad,  full,  and  rising  with  a  concave  sweep  to 
tail;  breast,  broad,  full  and  round;  body,  short,  deep  and  round  at 
the  sides;  fluff,  full  and  abundant;  wings,  medium  size,  and  neatly 
folded;  tail,  well  developed,  and  well  spread  at  base;  sickles, 


BLACK  WYANDOTTES — DESCRIPTION.  55 

medium  length  and  gracefully  curved;  legs,  short  and  stout  at 
thighs,  and  well  covered  with  soft  feathers;  shanks,  short,  stout  and 
free  from  feathers,  and  in  color  yellow  or  yellowish  black;  toes, 
straight,  well  spread,  and  in  color  the  same  as  shanks. 

THE  FEMALE. 

The  plumage  should  be  a  rich,  deep  black  throughout;  head, 
short,  crown  broad  and  somewhat  flat;  beak,  dark  horn  color,  shading 
to  yellow  at  the  point;  eyes,  bright  bay,  large  and  clear;  face,  red; 
ear-lobes,  bright  red,  and  well  developed;  comb,  rose,  and  similar 
in  form  and  curve  to  that  of  the  male,  but  smaller;  wattles,  bright 
red,  medium  length  and  well  rounded;  neck,  short,  arched,  and 
hackle  abundant;  back,  short,  flat  and  broad  across  shoulders,  and 
slightly  cushioned;  breast,  broad,  full  and  round;  body,  short,  deep, 
and  round  at  the  sides;  fluff,  full,  soft  and  abundant;  wings,  medium 
size,  and  neatly  folded;  tail,  well  developed,  and  well  spread  at  base; 
legs  and  toes,  the  same  as  in  male. 

REMARKS. 

One  cannot  give  a  complete  list  of  the  disqualifying  clauses,  on 
account  of  not  knowing  what  the  standard  will  enforce  by  its  judg- 
ment on  the  color  of  legs.  However,  we  can  approximately  judge 
that  it  will  not  be  far  from  the  following  :  Disqualifications. — Feath- 
ers on  shanks  or  toes;  permanent  white  or  yellow  covering  more 
than  one- third  of  the  surface  of  ear-lobes;  combs  other  than  rose, 
or  falling  decidedly  over  on  one  side,  or  so  large  as  to  obstruct 
sight;  decidedly  wry  tails;  crooked  backs  or  other  abnormal 
deformity;  shanks  other  than  yellow,  yellowish  black,  or  black 
shading  to  willow;  feathers  tipped  or  spotted  one-half  with  false 
color  on  any  part  of  plumage;  presence  of  any  false  color  to  be  cut 
severely. 

The  standard  weights  are  the  same  as  for  other  Wyandotte 
varieties.  The  scale  of  points  for  judging  this  variety  should  be  the 
same  as  for  Whites.  A  few  more  years  of  intelligent  breeding  will 
remove  some  of  the  defects  now  apparent.  The  chief  trouble  is, 
that  white  appears  in  primaries  and  secondaries  in  the  females,  and 
white  feathers  and  silver  hackles  and  saddles,  and  white  in  wing-bar, 
in  the  males.  These,  in  time,  will  be  lessened  by  judicious  breed- 
ing and  culling,  as  will  also  white  in  under-color. 

It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the  Blacks  will  produce  a  large 
percentage  of  salable  birds  at  present,  as  the  pullets  usually  come 


56  WYANDOTTES. 

solid  black  with  black  beaks,  dark  combs  and  faces,  and,  also,  black 
shanks  and  toes,  with  the  bottom  of  the  feet  yellow.  The  reversion 
to  the  Silver  variety  is  more  apparent  in  the  cockerels,  and  they  are 
less  certain  in  plumage;  white  shows  very  frequently  in  places  above 
named,  and  also  in  tail.  Improvement,  at  best,  is  of  slow  growth, 
but  there  is  a  determination  among  Black  Wyandotte  breeders  to 
conquer  existing  faults,  and  make  their  favorite  variety  second  to 
none  in  richness  of  plumage  and  intrinsic  qualities. 

Much  of  the  future  success  of  this  variety,  depends  upon  har- 
mony and  united  action  of  their  breeders,  in  bringing  them  before  the 
people  in  a  presentable  condition,  which  can  be  depended  on  to  be 
maintained  in  their  breeding.  The  standard  should  not  be  too  arbi- 
trary on  the  color  of  legs,  and  judges  should  not  provoke  or  increase 
obstacles  to  their  cultivation,  by  dealing  too  severely  with  them  in 
the  show-room.  But,  whilst  admitting  a  certain  policy  of  leniency 
towards  the  Blacks,  for  the  present,  their  breeders  must  not  cease  in 
their  endeavors  to  obtain  a  pure,  glossy  black  plumage  and  pure 
yellow  leg,  which  is  so  strikingly  handsome. 

MATING  AND   JUDGING. 

Little  need  be  said  on  mating  solid  black  or  white  fowls,  if  their 
physical  qualities  are  faultless,  or  as  near  perfection,  in  vigor 
and  health,  as  can  readily  be  obtained.  This  secured,  color  is  the 
next  object  of  importance,  and,  in  Black  Wyandottes,  metallic  black 
should  be  the  ideal  for  both  sexes,  and  not  sooty  or  dead  black, 
lacking  in  intensity  of  color,  brightness,  hardness  and  smoothness 
of  finish  and  lustre.  In  black  varieties  there  is  little  to  do  beyond 
these  two  distinctions  in  color,  and  each  mating  must  tend  to 
establish  this  richness  of  plumage. 

It  is  best,  at  all  times,  to  mate  metallic  black  males  and  females 
together,  but,  if  one  is  limited  in  breeding  stock,  he  must  make  the 
best  use  he  can  of  others.  If  the  male's  plumage  is  a  rich,  lustrous 
black,  and  that  of  the  female  dead  or  sooty  black,  most  of  the  pullets 
will  come  in  fair  plumage,  much  richer  than  that  of  the  dam,  but 
the  cockerels  will  be  inferior  to  the  sire  in  hardness,  smoothness  and 
polish.  The  union  of  a  metallic  black  male  and  a  dead  black  female 
will,  in  time,  restore  the  color,  and  improve  and  beautify  it,  if  a 
skillful  selection  of  the  progeny  be  made,  and  put  with  those  of  the 
black  metallic  mating. 

There  may  be  a  disposition  to  mate  males  with  white  in  wing  or 
tail — otherwise  good — to  prime  colored  females,  in  the  hopes  of 


BLACK  WYANDOTTES — MATING  AND  JUDGING.  57 

securing  first-class  birds,  and  running  chances  of  getting  some  with- 
out the  objectionable  white.  This  is  a  very  injudicious  policy,' as 
the  white  is  bred  into  the  stock,  and  will  "  crop  out "  now  and  then, 
if  not  in  every  brood.  Present  expediency  should  never  be  at- 
tempted, when  everything  shows  that  it  is  going  to  work  injury  for 
years  in  the  breeding  fowls,  not  only  in  the  yards  of  the  one  who 
has  caused  this  injury,  but,  also,  in  the  breeding  fowls  of  those  who 
unfortunately  purchased  some  of  his  stock. 

"  Make  haste  slowly  "  is  a  good  maxim  to  follow  in  cultivating 
new  varieties.  The  "  almighty  dollar  "  has  such  weight  and  influence 
over  the  flexible  conscience  of  some  breeders,  that  they  will  not  take 
time,  nor  put  themselves  to  any  unnecessary  expense  or  trouble,  in 
obtaining  a  male  or  female  which  would  be  free  from  such  objec- 
tionable points,  and,  if  granted  that  such  birds  are  "  few  and  far 
between,"  at  least,  they  have  it  in  their  power  to  wait  until  the 
variety  has  been  bred  long  enough  to  remove  such  defects  as  would 
disqualify  them  in  the  show-room,  and  not  breed  a  disqualified  male 
in  the  hopes  of  procuring  a  Standard  offspring. 

JUDGING. — On  this  point  the  defects  are,  sooty  black  or  dead 
black  color  of  plumage;  white  in  hackles,  wings  and  tail;  white  in 
under-color;  dusky  shanks,  feet  and  toes.  Sometimes  gray  appears 
in  hackles,  back  and  breast,  and  those  males  which  show  bright 
yellow  legs  (supposing  yellow  is  the  standard  color)  are  almost 
invariably  troubled  with  white  in  tail,  and  sometimes  in  hackle,  too. 
Of  course,  such  defects  often  appear  in  old  varieties,  but  these  are 
exceptions,  as  a  rule,  and  it  is  to  be  expected,  in  the  course  of  time, 
that  Black  Wyandottes  will  breed  as  true  to  color  as  other  black 
varieties.  The  scale  of  points  for  judging  this  variety  should  be  the 
same  as  for  whites,  as  already  mentioned,  and  the  degree  of  defects 
from  a  rich  glossy  black  is  to  be  cut  accordingly.  In  all  other  sec- 
tions, aside  from  color,  the  defects  in  each  will  be  the  same  as 
in  other  varieties,  consequently,  the  cut  for  each  defect  will  be  the 
same  as  already  scored  in  the  laced  birds;  all  must  conform  to  one 
standard,  and  all  defects  must  be  judged  alike. 


W 


O 

Q 


I 


I 


PART  FOURTH. 


WHITE  WYANDOTTES, 


ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 

There  seems  to  be  a  well-founded  opinion  among  poultrymen, 
that  the  White  Wyandotte  is  taking  the  lead  of  its  cousins.  With 
the  White  Plymouth  Rock  starting  in  the  race  for  popular  favor,  the 
friends  of  each  variety  having  boomed  and  lauded  them  to  the 
skies,  the  demand  even  exceeded  the  number  of  breeding  fowls, 
and  created  a  desire  in  some  to  take  advantage  of  the  demand,  and 
cross  Rose-Comb  White  Leghorns,  White  Dorkings,  etc.,  on  the 
Silvers,  and,  in  some  cases,  on  White  Plymouth  Rocks.  This  un- 
scrupulous and  dishonorable  means  of  putting  in  the  market 
mongrels  and  spurious  White  Wyandottes,  had  a  very  bad  effect, 
and  would  have  blasted  the  hopes  of  many,  had  not  some  honest 
and  enthusiastic  breeders  come  to  the  rescue,  and  urged  the  forma- 
tion of  a  White  Wyandotte  club,  and,  at  the  same  time,  condemned 
those  who  were  taking  dishonest  measures  in  the  manipulation  of 
this  meritorious  variety,  which  was  able  to  stand  on  its  own  merits, 
when  purely  bred. 

The  White  Wyandotte  is  rapidly  approaching  reliability  in  the 
hands  of  experienced  breeders;  as  near  the  ideal  type  and  general 
comeliness  of  a  Wyandotte,  as  we  could  reasonably  expect  of  a  new 
variety,  while,  at  the  same  time,  there  are  a  number  of  breeders  who 
have  poor  specimens  coming  into  the  world  with  each  brood — living 
witnesses  of  their  impurity.  We  think  this  is  mainly  due  to  undue 
haste,  in  buying  up  from  different  yards  new  strains,  in  order  to  have 
several  breeding-pens  at  once  to  fill  the  demands  and  secure  the  prices 
— five  to  eight  dollars  a  setting — and  the  anxiety  of  many  to  produce 
strains  of  their  own,  with,  perhaps,  only  one  bird  of  the  variety  to 
start  with,  disseminating  through  the  country  a  miserable  lot  of 


6o  WYANDOTTES. 

scrubs  taking  the  name  of  White  Wyandottes,  the  name  being  a 
passport  to  their  sale  and  value. 

Those  who  watch  the  system  of  breeding  thoroughbred  fowls 
and  animals,  are  not  surprised  at  these  periodic  or  spasmodic  booms. 
Our  ingenuity  and  enterprise  must  not  rust  for  want  of  friction,  nor 
will  we  accept  the  maxim  that  "true  genius  is  ever  modest."  We 
rush  at  things  without  weighing  the  ultimate  results;  failure  is  un- 
known in  our  vocabulary,  for,  when  we  make  a  false  step,  we  do  not 
retire  to  examine  the  ground,  and  calculate  on  the  obstacles  before 
us,  but  we  start  on  a  new  path,  and  manage  to  reach  the  objective 
point  by  the  shortest  road.  Away  back  in  the  "  fifties,"  we  worked 
up  a  hen  fever  craze,  which  appears  to  have  taken  deep  root  in  our 
soil,  as  it  comes,  like  other  contagious  fevers,  when  our  blood  is 
morbid  and  sluggish  and  needs  stirring  up.  Our  English  brethren 
do  not  have  this  fever  with  such  virulence,  but  they  have  learned 
many  of  the  Yankee  tricks  at  manipulation;  not  in  making  new 
varieties,  so  much,  but  in  working  over  old  stock  for  the  American 
market. 

We  may  take  to  ourselves  much  praise  for  producing  the 
finest  class  of  fowls  known  to  the  American  or  European  poultry 
fancier.  Indeed,  it  is  hard  to  discriminate  between  the  "  Rocks  "  and 
"  Dottes,"  as  far  as  beauty  and  utility  go.  It  is,  perhaps,  known  to 
the  amateur,  that  the  White  Wyandotte  is  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the 
best,  of  the  American  class,  for  every  purpose.  We  know  there  are 
many  enthusiastic  admirers  of  this  variety,  who  make  very  extrava- 
gant, and,  indeed,  ludicrous  statements  of  their  superiority  in  lay- 
ing, but  it  is  pardonable  on  the  part  of  those  who  sometimes  con- 
tribute to  their  favorite  poultry  papers,  an  article  on  the  variety  or 
varieties  they  are  breeding;  so  it  is  not  the  White  Wyandotte, 
altogether,  that  receives  all  the  fulsome  adulation  of  an  enthused 
amateur;  every  Standard  breed  is  recorded,  in  cold  type,  the  "best 
breed  in  the  country." 

It  is  a  mooted  question  who  originated  the  White  Wyandottes. 
The  friends  of  Mr.  Geo.  H.  Towle  claim  that  he  was  breeding  and 
improving  the  White  Wyandotte  in  1872,  while  the  friends  of  Mr.  B. 
M.  Briggs,  of  Wyandale,  N.  Y.,  insist  on  his  right  of  priority.  A 
few  others,  too,  modestly  hint  that  they  had  "  white  sports  "  as  early 
as  those  who  are  claiming  the  honor,  but,  on  investigation,  the 
credit  is  due  to  one  or  the  other  of  these  two  gentlemen;  the  latter, 
however,  having  the  first  strain  of  pure-bred  birds  in  a  presentable 
condition,  and  this  honor  was  conceded  by  the  White  Wyandotte 


WHITE  WYANDOTTES — HISTORY.  61 

Club,  when  Mr.  Briggs  was  elected  as  president  and  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  a  standard  for  the  variety. 

The  White  Wyandotte  followed  the  Silver  breed,  and  originated 
from  "  sports  ; "  therefore,  are  thoroughbreds,  and  not  a  cross-bred 
variety.  They  have  all  the  distinctive  characteristics  of  the  original 
breed,  and  their  own  distinguishing  color.  It  is  certain  that  the 
pure  Whites  have  shown  a  more  pleasing  type  than  either  the 
Silvers  or  Goldens;  that  is,  the  young  of  the  Whites  usually  de- 
velop to  what  judges  deem  an  ideal  for  Wyandottes.  "Silver 
King,"  being  one  of  the  best  specimens,  in  type,  of  his  race,  has 
been  accepted  as  an  ideal  by  the  club,  and  this  will  be  a  stimulant 
to  White  Wyandotte  breeders  to  attain  this  type  in  their  flocks;  the 
living  specimen  being  worth  more  to  them  than  all  the  cuts  and 
profiles  of  the  variety  put  together. 

This  type  for  the  White  Wyandottes  is  not  only  universally 
accepted,  but  is  also  universally  commended  for  other  Wyandotte 
varieties.  A  well-known  writer  voiced  the  sentiments  of  Wyandotte 
breeders,  shortly  after  the  Whites  were  admitted  to  the  Standard  : 
"  Type  is  to  be  one  and  the  same  for  all,  for  we  have  all  got  to 
breed  to  that  outline  that  the  committee  of  breeders  or  the  Wyandotte 
Club  shall  adopt.  This  is  going  to  obviate  all  strain  characteristics. 
*  *  *  The  cockerel  exhibited  by  Mr.  Croffut,  of  Binghamton, 
N.  Y.,  was,  by  far,  the  best  specimen  that  has  yet  been  exhibited, 
and,  surely,  no  better  type  could  be  secured  to  outline  the  entire  race 
of  Wyandottes.  *  *  *  They  are  now  in  the  Standard,  and,  if  a 
decided  stand  is  taken  to  adopt  a  pure  Wyandotte  type,  free  from 
all  Leghorn  taint,  and  the  breeders  of  them  will  guard  jealously  this 
type,  they  will,  in  a  few  years,  be  proud  of  this  new  acquisition. 
All  new  breeds  suffer  from  a  boom,  for  unprincipled  men  will  sell 
eggs  during  such  a  boom  that  are  not  reliable,  and  the  race  has  to 
live  this  evil  down." 

A  volume  could  be  readily  filled  with  testimonials  of  Wyandotte 
breeders  in  commendation  of  this  race,  both  for  laying  and  market 
purposes  ;  while  all  agree  that  the  laced  and  self-colored  varieties 
are  beautiful,  comely  and  unique.  It  might  be  said  of  the  Black 
and  White  varieties  that  their  popularity  is  due  to  the  Silver  Laced 
breed,  and  that  if  there  were  no  laced  breed  before  them,  they  would 
be  considered  mediocre.  There  is  no  disputing  the  fact  that  these 
varieties  have  been  boomed  on  the  merits  of  the  Laced,  like  the 
White  Plymouth  Rocks  on  the  popularity  of  the  Barred  variety;  but 
while  conceding  this,  is  it  not  equally  a  fact  that  these  self-colored 


62  WYANDOTTES. 

varieties  have  proved  themselves  worthy  members  of  the  Wyandotte 
family  in  every  point  save  color  ? 

The  spurious  fowls  representing  White  Wyandottes,  and  falling 
short  of  those  qualities  so  highly  commended  in  the  laced  birds, 
ought  not  militate  against  the  pure  bred  fowl,  any  more  than  bad 
members  of  a  congregation  ought  militate  against  the  purity  of  the 
religion  which  they  claim  to  represent.  Self-interest  is  a  strong 
passion  in  the  average  man,  and  when  every  inducement  and  oppor- 
tunity present  themselves  whereby  he  can  turn  a  ready  dollar  to  his 
own  advantage  by  a  little  shrewdness,  which  suggests  a  choice  be- 
tween honest  and  dishonest  dealing,  the  latter  is  often  taken  to  mean 
cuteness  of  ability,  or  taking  advantage  of  another  in  a  trade  or  sale. 

The  Rev.  F.  H.  Parsons  writes  of  the  White  Wyandottes,  in 
1887:  "I  am  forced  to  the  conclusion,  from  what  I  have  bred,  seen 
and  learned  by  correspondence  with  breeders  of  White  Wyandottes, 
that  from  stock  strictly  first  class,  birds  can  be  raised  that  will  be  as 
uniform  and  give  as  many  superior  birds  as  the  standard  variety, 
and  for  the  careless  breeder  better  results  will  be  found  ;  but  if  you 
have  fine  standard  birds,  be  slow  to  give  them  up,  expecting  to  get 
something  very  much  superior.  For  general  purposes  there  is  little 
difference,  the  birds  being  almost  identical  in  characteristics,  but 
White  are  one-half  pound  short  in  weight,  and  here  is  found  a  tend- 
ency in  unscrupulous  breeders  to  use  a  White  Wyandotte  cockerel 
with  Rose-Comb  White  Leghorn  hens  of  large  size,  and  sell  the 
cross  for  White  Wyandottes.  They  may  suffer  reproach  in  this  way, 
for  they  are  hard  to  detect,  the  ear-lobe  being  the  surest  test.  They 
are  deservedly  popular  and  will  in  a  few  years  be  one  of  the  leading 
farm  fowls,  as  when  dressed  no  colored  pin  feathers  are  seen;  their 
bodies  are  good  size  and  plump,  with  yellow  skin  and  legs;  matur- 
ing quickly  and  easy  to  raise,  with  a  white  plumage,  and  are  but 
little  trouble  to  mate,  and  breed  well.  *  The  more  I  see  of  them  the 
more  I  admire  them,'  is  the  universal  testimony." 

GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

As  egg  producers  and  table  fowl,  the  Whites  are  equal  to  the 
Laced.  They  have  the  same  plump  bodies,  constitutional  vigor, 
physical  beauty,  commanding  carriage,  standard  points,  and  the 
only  difference  is  the  color.  They  can  be  used  at  an  early  age  for 
broilers  and  roasters.  The  adult  males  will  weigh  from  seven  to 
eight  pounds,  and  the  females  from  six  to  seven  pounds.  These 


WHITE  WYANDOTTES — CHARACTERISTICS.  63 

weights,  in  a  comparatively  short  and  clean-limbed  fowl,  indicate  a 
solid,  compact  flesh  former,  with  little  offal. 

Although  utility  is  the  leading  merit  and  strongest  recommen- 
dation to  all  interested  in  poultry  keeping,  the  Whites  are  also  a 
clean  cut  and  comely  variety.  This  is  associated  with  their  useful- 
ness; and  no  breeder  speaks  of  one  without  coupling  it  with  the 
other,  as,  by  common  consent,  they  are  pronounced  a  handsome 
variety  of  fowls.  In  the  show-room  or  on  the  green  lawn  they  are 
pretty  and  attractive.  White  breeds  having  been  comparatively 
rare  until  the  past  decade,  the  color  is  always  pleasing  to  the 
beholder,  whether  he  breeds  fowls  or  not;  and  the  only  reason  that 
can  be  given  now  for  the  sudden  change  of  mind  in  breeding  and 
booming  white  varieties  is,  that  they  have  become  popular  among 
the  people,  by  reason  of  fanciers  catering  to  the  tastes  of  the  masses. 
The  rich,  red  comb,  like  a  full  blown  rose,  growing  on  the  head, 
red  face,  ear-lobes  and  pendant  wattles,  contrasting  with  a  white 
plumage  and  yellow  legs,  is  both  pleasing  and  attractive. 

White  fowls  have  figured  in  ancient  history  and  tradition. 
Plutarch  informs  us,  that  a  white  cock  was  always  sacrificed  to 
Anubis,  the  ruler  of  the  upper  world,  and  a  saffron  or  brimstone 
colored  cock  to  the  same  god,  under  the  name  Hermanubis,  as  ruler 
of  the  under  world  ;  so  in  the  Voluspa,  the  oldest  part  of  the  Edda, 
the  golden-combed  cock  was  the  symbol  of  light  chants  in  Valhalla, 
and  the  demoniac  black  cock  in  the  halls  of  Hell;  and  popular 
legends  made  a  similar  distinction  between  the  white,  saffron,  red 
and  black  cocks. 

In  that  wonderful  work  by  Flaubert,  "Salammbo,"  quoted  in 
Burchard's  "Volumen  Decretorum,"  descriptive  of  the  siege  of 
Carthage,  the  author  introduces  the  white  and  black  cocks  as  indica- 
tive of  the  way  in  which  they  were  then  regarded.  Speaking  of  the 
city,  he  says,  that  "  The  white  cocks,  consecrated  to  the  sun,  crowed 
on  the  terraces; "  and  in  describing  the  priest  Schababarim,  says, 
that  "  with  his  face  covered  with  a  veil,  and  waving  torches,  he  had 
cast  a  black  cock  on  a  fire  of  Sandarack,  before  the  breast  of  the 
sphinx — father  of  the  terror." 

The  white  plumage  is  much  in  favor  of  this  variety  for  market 
purposes.  The  color  does  not  make  the  flesh  more  tender,  succu- 
lent, or  better  flavored,  but  it  improves  the  appearance  of  the  carcass 
when  dressed;  the  pin  feathers,  being  nearly  the  color  of  the  flesh, 
are  scarcely^ discernible.  They  have  a  nice  yellow  skin,  a  color 
highly  prized  by  cooks  and  housekeepers  and,  of  course,  dealers  in 


64  WYANDOTTES 

poultry.  Outward  appearance  has  much  to  do  with  making  a  favor- 
able impression,  and  if  the  mind  be  satisfied  with  such  impressions, 
the  taste  usually  becomes  subservient  to  them,  and  defects  are  not 
criticised  so  closely.  However,  there  is  little  cause  for  finding  fault 
with  the  White  Wyandottes  on  the  score  of  nice  flesh  and  toothsome 
eating,  and  though  color  of  skin  is  of  little  value  by  itself,  in  close 
competition  for  general  favor,  every  little  advantage,  magnified, 
counts  in  the  long  run. 

Like  all  new  varieties,  there  is  yet  much  to  be  perfected  before 
the  White  can  poise  as  an  ideal  fowl.  Breeders  must  reject  every 
poor  specimen  in  their  own  yards,  and  reject  every  specimen  which 
comes  from  unknown  yards,  and  all  which  have  not  the  character- 
istics of  pure  White  Wyandottes.  The  White  Wyandotte  is  a  true 
Wyandotte  in  type,  carriage,  facial  appendages,  size,  egg  production, 
quality  of  flesh,  general  characteristics,  and  even  the  size  and  shade 
of  eggs.  Therefore,  it  behooves  the  reliable  breeder  to  adhere 
closely  to  pure  Wyandotte  blood,  encouraging  the  crossing  of 
families  from  pure  stock,  and  all  join  to  perfect  and  establish  this 
variety  on  a  sure  and  solid  foundation.  When  this  will  have  been 
attained,  the  Whites  will  rapidly  approach  reliability,  and  it  is 
certain  that  their  breeders  will  be  amply  rewarded  when  the  variety 
is,  like  Caesar's  wife,  "above  suspicion." 

WHAT  OTHERS  SAY. — Mr.  I.  K.  Felch  is  unstinted  in  his 
praise  of  White  Wyandottes,  and  reviews  this  variety  when  com- 
paratively young :  "  At  no  time  has  there  been  such  apparent 
appreciation  of  a  breed,  as  has  signalized  that  for  the  White  Wyan- 
dottes, many  families  coming  positively  white  in  plumage,  while 
their  peculiar  shape  is  fine  for  the  broiler,  being  a  plump  chick  from 
the  age  of  four  weeks  old  upwards.  There  is  no  moment  of  its  life 
when  it  is  not  a  fit  broiler  under  four  months  old,  nor  that  it  is  not 
a  nice  roaster  up  to  seven  months  of  age;  it  is  just  simply  a  matter 
of  size.  Even  at  five  weeks  old  they  broil  into  a  plump,  quail-like 
shape,  and,  broiled  on  toast,  are  much  in  flavor  like  '  quail  de 
-boulerd;'  they  will  often  take  the  place  of  the  genuine  article,  many 
a  time  with  perfect  satisfaction  to  the  epicure,  while  waiting  for  the 
open  season  for  that  bird.  We  have  tried  them,  and  must  say  that 
a  fat  five-weeks-old  White  Wyandotte  chicken,  broiled  on  toast,  is 
one  of  the  greatest  luxuries  of  the  poultry-yard.  The  white  plumage 
makes  the  poultry  look  clean  and  nice  ;  no  black  disfigurement 
caused  by  dark  pin  feathers.  Then,  for  beauty  in  the  show-pen,  tell 
us  of  a  more  beautiful  sight.  *  *  *  Surely,  there  is  exhibition 


WHITE  WYANDOTTES — CHARACTERISTICS.  65 

merit  here,  and  beauty  enough  to  satisfy  any  lover  of  the  fowl  race. 
This  breed  is  fast  becoming  a  producer  of  brown  eggs  of  fair  size; 
the  demand  for  brown  eggs  is  doing  more  to  protect  them  from 
Leghorn  crosses,  than  all  other  efforts  put  together.  We  bespeak 
for  them  a  large  share  of  popular  favor,  and,  from  the  ranks  of% 
all  lovers  of  poultry  who  are  forced  to  make  their  selections  from 
the  breeds  that  do  the  best  toward  paying  a  profit,  they  will  make 
no  mistake  in  their  affections  for,  and  the  keeping  of,  a  flock  of 
White  Wyandottes." 

Mr.  J.  H.  Drevenstedt  says:  "As  to  table  qualities,  we  know 
by  the  voice  of  our  customers  that  the  Wyandotte  is  preferred.  We 
except  nothing  but  the  Houdan-Brahma  cross,  which  is  unexcelled 
for  the  table,  but  not  attractive  for  market.  Brahmas  are  excellent 
when  nearly  full  grown,  but  do  not  dress  as  plump  and  nice  when 
young,  as  the  Wyandottes  or  Plymouth  Rocks.  As  broilers,  the 
latter  are  certainly  excellent,  but  a  recent  trial  with  White  Leghorns 
convinces  us  that  this  little  breed  is  of  unusual  value  for  early 
broilers,  and  we  are  indebted  to  P.  H.  Jacobs  for  this  suggestion. 
For  spring  chickens,  sold  in  late  summer  and  fall,  we  claim  the 
Wyandotte  the  best  of  all.  They  will  dress  six  to  seven  pounds, 
and  carry  more  lean  meat  on  breast  and  back,  and  have  less  offal, 
than  any  other  American  breed.  The  Plymouth  Rock  is  inclined 
to  fatten  too  readily,  and  a  two-year-old  Rock  is  a  lump  of  fat,  and 
can  be  compared  to  the  Essex  breed  of  hogs — fine  and  sleek,  but  a 
lard  deposit.  The  Wyandotte  is,  among  fowls,  what  the  Berkshire  is 
among  swine.  It  is  the  Dorking  of  America.  Improve  these  table 
qualities,  and  the  already  superior  laying  qualities,  by  constant  and 
proper  selection,  and  we  Wyandotte  breeders  need  look  no  further 
for  a  better  fowl.  Being  a  strong  admirer  of  this  breed,  and 
thoroughly  satisfied  with  its  superiority,  we  simply  put  in  our  protest 
to  Mr.  S.'s  statements,  and  trust  that  neither  he  nor  other  breeders 
will  consider  their  favorites  unjustly  criticised,  as  it  is  far  from  our 
intention  to  disparage  the  claims  of  other  meritorious  breeds." 

Mr.  J.  Penfold  Field,  author  of  "The  Wyandotte  Fowl,"  a  small 
English  work  referred  to  before,  says  :  •'  In  my  own  yards  I  have 
many  Wyandottes  that  have  never  become  broody,  and  it  would  be 
an  easy  matter,  if  one  desired  it,  to  produce  a  non-sitting  strain. 

"  They  are  par  excellence  the  farmer's  fowls,  and  it  is  really  a 
pity  to  note  how  very  few  the  farms  are  on  which  they  exist;  and  I 
am  doubtful  if  it  will  not  be  years  before  farmers  take  any  appreciable 
notice  of  them. 


66  WYANDOTTES. 

"  It  is  a  fact  worth  noticing  that,  after  all  the  years  the  Plymouth 
Rock  has  been  in  this  country,  the  British  farmer  is  only  just 
awakening  to  the  merits  of  that  variety.  Let  us  hope  for  a  quicker 
and  better  future  for  'our  pets.' 

"  For  quick  growth  and  early  maturity,  they  are  only  beaten  by 
the  Leghorn.  This  point,  alone,  is  a  very  great  consideration  in  a 
monetary  sense. 

"  As  egg-producers,  they  are  better  than  many  of  the  non-sitting 
breeds,  the  average  being  fully  170  eggs  per  annum,  and  some  thirty 
odd  hens,  in  the  season  of  1887-8,  averaged  180,  the  Whites  showing 
a  little  ahead  of  the  Silvers.  I  have  kept  Minorcas,  Red  Caps, 
Andalusians  and  Leghorns,  all  at  the  same  time,  and  under  similar 
conditions,  and  I  can  only  truly  say  that  the  latter  have  beaten 
them.  A  few  Andalusians  I  found  equal  to  the  Leghorns,  but  the 
greater  number  made  an  inferior  show.  In  days  gone  by  the  An- 
dalusian  laid  extremely  well,  but  I  am  afraid  that,  through  the 
system  of  breeding  adopted,  its  useful  qualities  are  lost,  with  the 
exception  of  a  very  few  strains. 

"  The  Minorca  and  the  Red  Cap,  although  very  fair  layers,  I 
never  found  equal  to  what  has  been  claimed  for  them,  and  they  are 
assuredly  no  better  than  the  Wyandotte." 

The  author  has  appended  a  foot  note  after  the  preceding  para- 
graph, as  follows:  "  Mr.  Charles  G.  Baker,  writing  of  Silvers  and 
Goldens,  says,  '  I  have  kept  a  good  many  sorts  in  my  time,  and  I 
never  kept  better  layers  all  the  year  round,  and  they  are  a  good  table 
fowl  of  a  nice  flavor.'  " 

Concerning  White  Wyandottes,  the  Rev.  Harold  Burton,  who 
makes  them  a  specialty,  writes:  "I  know  they  are  very  good  layers; 
they  run  wild  on  unlimited  grass,  go  just  where  they  like,  and  are 
only  fed  when  let  out  in  the  morning  and  shut  up  at  night;  I  am 
well  pleased  with  them  as  useful,  all  round  fowls,  capital  eating, 
excellent  layers,  first  rate  sitters  and  mothers,  hardy,  cheap  to  keep, 
tame  and  gentle  to  handle,  yet  lively  and  active;  very  pretty,  too." 

Breeders  are  almost  unanimous  in  declaring  "  It  is  the  finest  all 
round  fowl  ever  yet  seen;  an  unequaled  egg  producer  among  the 
sitting  varieties;  unsurpassed  as  a  table  bird  for  rapidity  of  growth 
and  quality  of  its  meat;  small  boned,  plump  and  not  overwhelmed 
with  noxious  fat,  and  one  that,  with  proper  treatment,  is  always 
ready,  even  for  a  connoisseur's  table,  without  any  system  of  artificial 
fattening.  Moreover,  it  is  hardy,  easily  reared,  and  is  the  breed  of 
all  others  from  which  to  select  hens  for  hatching  and  raising  chick- 


WHITE  WYANDOTTES — DESCRIPTION.  67 

ens.     No  hens  will  sit  steadier  or  become  more  quiet  and  careful 
mothers  than  the  Wyandottes." 

DESCRIPTION. 

The  White  Wyandotte  is  a  self-colored  variety,  and  must  con- 
form to  the  standard  for  other  varieties  of  the  breed,  save  color. 
The 'American  standard  for  judging  White  Wyandottes  is  accepted 
by  the  English  Club. 

THE  MALE. — The  head  is  short  and  broad  on  crown;  plumage 
pure  white;  eyes,  comb,  ear-lobes,  face  and  wattles  the  same  as  other 
Wyandotte  varieties;  the  beak  is  yellow. 

Neck,  is  the  same  in  form  and  arch;  plumage,  pure  white. 
Back,  short  and  broad,  like  the  Laced  varieties;  plumage,  pure  white. 
Breast,  full  and  round;  plumage,  pure  white.  Body,  the  same  as  in 
other  varieties;  plumage,  pure  white.  Fluff,  full,  abundant  and 
downy-like.  Wings,  medium  size  and  pure  white  in  color.  Tail, 
the  same  as  in  other  varieties  of  the  breed  and  white  in  color.  Legs 
and  toes,  the  same  as  in  the  Laced  fowls;  color  of  legs,  bright 
yellow. 

THE  FEMALE. — The  head  is  short  and  broad  on  crown;  plum- 
age, pure  white;  eyes,  comb,  ear-lobes,  face  and  wattles  the  same 
as  in  the  Laced  varieties;  the  beak  is  yellow. 

Neck,  is  the  same  in  form  and  arch;  plumage,  pure  white. 
Back,  short  and  broad;  plumage,  pure  white.  Breast,  full  and 
round;  plumage,  pure  white.  Body,  the  same  as  in  Laced;  plumage, 
pure  white.  Fluff,  the  same.  Wings,  medium  size  and  pure  white 
in  color.  Tail,  the  same  as  in  other  Wyandotte  varieties,  and  white 
in  color.  Legs  and  toes,  the  same  as  in  the  Laced  variety;  color 
of  legs,  bright  yellow. 

Standard  weights  are  the  same  as  for  other  varieties. 

Disqualifications  are  the  same  throughout,  except  the  last 
clause,  which  should  be,  "feathers  other  than  white  in  any  part 
of  the  plumage." 

REMARKS. 

It  may  seem  unjust  that  the  White  Wyandottes  should  be  sub- 
ject to  like  cuts,  and  the  same  points  allotted  in  the  various  sections 
with  the  Laced  varieties,  as  there  is  no  marking  to  breed  for;  but  on 
second  consideration,  the  breeder  will  find  that  this  is  meant  to  do 
justice  to  all,  without  giving  special  advantage  to  one  variety  above 
the  other.  At  first  one  is  apt  to  overlook  that  the  Whites  fail  in  color 


68  WYANDOTTES. 

from  the  expressed  term  of  the  standard— -pure  white — and  this  fail- 
ing almost  always  extends  to  under-color.  We  forget  that  this 
variety  has  a  yellow  skin,  as  well  as  yellow  legs,  and  that  this  yellow 
pigment  is  strong  enough  to  dye  certain  portions  of  the  plumage 
yellow,  straw,  or  reddish,  which  comes  more  or  less  on  the  surface 
of  the  greater  number  of  this  variety. 

The  color  faults  consist  in  the  shadings  from  pure  white  to  yel- 
low. If  we  are  to  have  pure  White  Wyandottes,  we  do  not  want 
them  with  yellow  or  bleached  plumage.  A  sunburnt  plumage  is  not 
a  yellow  one,  and  a  bleached  plumage  is  not  a  pure  white  one.  Per- 
fection of  color  is  just  as  much  of  a  desideratum,  and  should  be  as 
highly  prized  as  shades,  pencilings,  lacings  and  barrings  in  a  parti- 
colored variety.  Whites  should  be  much  easier  to  breed,  and  should 
come  truer  to  type  than  the  Laced  varieties;  but  even  with  this 
advantage"~and  the  fact  of  many  females  scoring  two  or  three  points 
higher  than  the  other  varieties,  and  also  some  of  the  males  gaining 
a  point  or  two  over  their  cousins,  we  must  cut  in  accordance  with 
the  value  of  pure  white.  The  straw,  or  reddish  brick  color,  will 
show  upon  the  surface  of  neck,  back,  primaries,  secondaries  and 
sickles,  and  the  cuts  in  each  section  will  range  from  one-half  to  one 
and  a  half  points. 

In  some  strains,  the  frequency  of  yellow  quills  is  so  prevalent 
that  it  seems  to  be  "  dyed  in  the  w6ol,"  or,  in  other  words,  constitu- 
tional. Such  serious  faults  may  be  so  aggravated  that  dark  color 
may  show  in  both  wings,  to  disqualify  the  specimen.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  advantages  of  a  self-colored  variety  like  the  Whites,  the 
yellow  shading  on  neck  will  be  cut  one-half  to  two  points;  on  back, 
one-half  to  two  points;  on  breast,  one-half  to  one  point;  on  body, 
one-half  to  one  point;  on  wings,  yellow  feather  one-half  point,  yellow 
shading  and  quills  one-half  to  three  points;  on  tail,  yellow  in  webs 
one-half  to  one  and  a  half  points,  in  quills  one-half  to  two  points; 
in  legs  and  feet,  other  than  yellow,  or  faded  from  bright  yellow,  one- 
half  to  three  points.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  these  possible  cuts  will 
reduce  the  number  of  specimens  which  the  casual  observer,  or 
young  amateur,  thinks  worthy  of  a  much  higher  score  than  their 
Laced  cousins,  and  the  number  of  Whites  which  will  score  over  91 
or  92  honest  points,  will  not  be  so  large  as  one  would  expect  from 
a  self-colored  variety. 

Every  breeder  of  white  fowls  with  yellow  legs  and  skin,  knows 
the  difficulty  of  breeding  them  with  pure  white  plumage;  some  con- 
tend that  a  "  blossomy  white  "  plumage  cannot  be  maintained  on 


WHITE  WYANDOTTES — MATING  AND  JUDGING.  69 

such  varieties  except  at  the  expense  of  health  and  close  confine- 
ment under  shade.  If  these  obstacles  did  not  exist,  there  would  be 
no  incentive  to  the  exercise  of  skill,  and  white  varieties  would  always 
be  the  winning  birds.  What  is  usually  pronounced  white,  may  be 
severely  cut  for  the  absence  of  the  shade  of  white  which  judges 
deem  pure.  Mr.  Felch  says:  "  In  all  living  shades  of  white,  oil  and 
white-lead  paint  is  a  good  standard,  cutting  for  shading  as  white 
till  it  becomes  yellow,  when  the  plumage  becomes  foreign  to  the 
breed.  The  exception  to  this  is  when  plumage  becomes  burned  by 
the  sun  and  weather.  This  can  be  determined  by  lifting  the  plum- 
age and  seeing  what  it  is  where  it  has  not  been  exposed,  and  to  see 
if  the  quills  are  yellow  also.  If  the  quill  be  yellow  where  not 
exposed,  we  must  consider  that  the  sun  is  not  the  whole  cause  of 
the  foreign  color."  This  is  a  very  practical  illustration  and  one 
that  can  be  easily  kept  in  mind.  White  fowls  should  have  plenty  of 
shade  trees  on  their  runs,  as  exposure  to  a  blistering  sun  and  neglect 
of  selection  in  the  breeding  pens,  would  eventually  change  the  plum- 
age from  pure  white  to  cream  color,  light  buff,  yellow  or  straw  color; 
and  we  would  be  safe  in  saying  that  they  would  in  time  revert  to 
the  pristine  color  of  the  ancestors. 

MATING  AND  JUDGING. 

As  there  is  only  one  color  to  select  from  in  a  flock  of  White 
Wyandottes,  after  fine  shape,  vigorous  constitution,  sound  limbs  and 
standard  head  and  appendages,  one  must  look  to  the  purity  of  the 
white  and  its  richness  in  gloss  as  an  indication  of  rich  blood  and 
sound  health.  A  pale  white,  like  the  lily,  without  sun  and  light, 
should  be  avoided.  The  male  having  a  richer,  deeper  or  stronger 
tinge  to  his  plumage,  though  it  be  white,  black  or  buff,  will  transmit 
the  purity  or  impurity  of  his  color,  as  a  rule,  in  a  greater  degree 
than  the  female  with  which  he  is  mated;  so  it  behooves  the  breeder 
to  look  sharply  at  color  and  not  mate  anything  but  white,  both  in 
web  and  shaft.  If  this  cannot  be  obtained  in  the  females,  too,  and 
they  show  yellowish  tinge  and  yellow  quills,  the  male  must  be  white. 
It  will  not  be  proper  mating  to  put  together  males  and  females  with 
yellow  on  surface  or  quill,  bad  as  it  is  to  be  obliged  to  use  one  or 
the  other  with  a  mate  whose  plumage  is  white  to  counteract  the 
yellow;  but  when  males  and  females  are  faulty  in  color,  it  is  out  of 
the  question  to  expect  pure  white  plumage  in  the  offspring.  The 
female  progeny,  from  an  opposite  mating,  coming  all  white,  may  be 


yo  WYANDOTTES. 

used  with  a  pure  white  male,  but  there  is  no  dependence  on  the 
males  from  such  a  mating. 

As  we  have  already  mentioned  the  defects  in  color  and  the 
usual  cuts  for  the  same,  the  want  of  space  will  not  permit  us  to  take 
up  the  question  again.  We  hope  that  our  suggestions  have  been 
sufficiently  full  and  clear  to  assist  the  amateur  fancier  in  mating  and 
judging,  as  all  the  hints  expressed  or  implied  on  the  Laced  varieties, 
can  with  profit  be  taken  and  applied  to  the  self-colored  varieties. 


PREPARING  WIANDOTTES  FOR  EXHIBITION, 


Since  the  era  of  poultry  shows,  many  exhibitors  wash  and  other- 
wise prepare  their  birds  so  that  they  will  attract  the  eye  of  the  judge, 
show  to  better  advantage  and  score  higher,  by  being  in  a  more  pre- 
sentable condition.  This  practice  originated  in  England,  and  it  was 
found  in  some  cases  necessary,  owing  to  so  much  smoke  from  coal, 
which  entirely  blackened  the  plumage  of  white  fowls  raised  in  cities. 
A  clean  plumage,  face,  comb,  wattles  and  legs,  look  pleasing  to 
judge  and  observer,  and  make  a  favorable  impression  in  comparison 
judging. 

A  fowl  needs  to  be  in  good  health  to  show  a  rich  plumage,  and 
when  in  good  condition  of  flesh,  without  being  fat,  the  plumage  is 
more  abundant.  The  severity  of  our  winters,  just  about  the  time 
of  our  exhibitions,  has  deterred  many  exhibitors  from  washing  their 
show  birds  for  fear  of  their  taking  cold  and  bringing  on  roup  during 
exhibition.  The  process  is  simple  enough,  when  properly  done; 
but  in  the  case  of  white  or  light  colored  birds,  it  requires  more 
care,  skill  and  patience. 

The  best  way  to  remove  dirt  and  stains  from  the  plumage  is  by 
clean,  white  or  transparent  soap,  that  is  free  from  much  alkali. 
Have  two  tubs  in  readiness,  one  larger  than  the  other,  and  fill  the 
smaller  one  with  about  three  inches  of  warm  water;  cut  up  for  one 
bird  about  half  a  pound  of  white  soap,  and  make  a  strong  lather  in 
the  tub;  stand  the  bird  in  the  lather  and  wash  it,  using  a  softish 
hair  brush,  and  your  hand  ;  thoroughly  brush  and  cleanse  the 
feathers  everywhere,  making  sure  that  your  strokes  are  downwards, 
from  head  to  tail,  and  not  up  and  down,  as  that  would  ruffle  the 
feathers.  This  done,  having  prepared  warm  water  in  the  larger  tub, 
dip  the  bird  in  and  out,  and  at  the  same  time  stroke  the  feathers 
down,  to  get  out  every  vestige  of  the  suds.  If  the  shanks  are  very 


72  WYANDOTTES. 

dirty  between  the  scales,  it  may  be  necessary  to  use  a  nail  or  old 
tooth  brush  to  cleanse  them.  When  the  feathers  are  perfectly  free 
of  soap,  take  a  can  of  lukewarm  water,  with  a  little  bluing  in  it 
to  give  it  color,  and  pour  it  over  the  bird,  drain  and  dry  as  quickly 
as  possible,  using  a  towel  and  then  the  brush,  to  smooth  and  arrange 
the  feathers;  turning  the  bird  all  the  while  around  to  the  open  fire 
or  open  grate  of  the  stove,  so  that  it  will  dry  quickly.  It  must  not, 
however,  be  too  close  to  the  fire,  as  it  might  crisp  or  curl  the  feath- 
ers. The  bluing  can  be  dispensed  with  when  there  is  no  white  fowl 
to  be  washed. 

The  hand  and  brush  must  finish  the  work;  the  legs  and  head 
briskly  rubbed  with  a  little  alcohol,  and,  while  the  bird  is  still  damp, 
give  it  a  little  brandy  or  whiskey  in  a  teaspoonful  of  water,  to  revive 
and  prevent  it  taking  cold.  As  the  bird  dries  and  fluffs  out,  gradu- 
ally draw  away  from  the  fire;  leave  the  birds  all  night  in  a  warm 
kitchen,  but,  when  dry,  feed  them  some  stimulating  food.  Bathe 
the  legs  next  day  with  a  mixture  of  alcohol  and  olive  oil,  as  it  will 
freshen,  brighten  and  keep  the  skin  from  cracking. 

Next  day  place  them  in  their  own  preparing  pen,  with  several 
inches  of  cut  rye  straw,  into  which  scatter  wheat  for  them  to  scratch 
and  get  agreeable  exercise;  let  them  rest  one  or  two  days  before 
their  journey,  lest  they  take  cold  on  sudden  exposure.  Hard  feath- 
ered and  parti-colored  breeds  do  not  need  as  much  washing  as  White 
Wyandottes,  White  Plymouth  Rocks  and  White  Cochins.  Both  the 
washing  room  and  sleeping  apartment  need  agreeable  warmth  to 
avoid  risk  of  taking  cold  during  and  after  the  operation.  When  the 
plumage  is  dry,  a  second  brushing  and  combing  of  the  feathers  may 
be  necessary. 

Of  course,  it  is  understood  that  the  birds  intended  for  exhibi- 
tion should  be  fed  on  certain  kinds  of  food  for  several  weeks  to  get 
them  in  proper  condition.  A  mess  of  barley  and  buckwheat  for 
breakfast;  vegetables,  boiled  rice  and  milk,  with  a  handful  of  brown 
sugar  stirred  in,  or  corn  meal  pudding  and  milk  for  dinner;  a  hand- 
ful of  hemp  seed  and  sunflower  seed  for  three  or  four  hens  or  cock- 
erels in  the  afternoon,  and  late  in  the  evening  a  supper  of  sound 
wheat  and  corn. 


PART  FIFTH. 


MANAGEMENT,  CARE  AND  FEEDING. 


MANAGEMENT. 

"  Nothing  succeeds  like  success  "  is  a  true  saying,  and  nothing 
is  of  greater  importance  to  the  beginner  than  the  knack  of  good 
management,  coupled  with  industry.  It  is  well  that  every  poultry- 
man  should  know  that  good  management  is  as  much  needed  in  the 
pursuit  of  poultry  keeping  as  it  is  in  any  other  namable  business. 
Do  not  think,  for  a  moment,  that  poultry  culture  is  too  small  or  too 
trifling  to  not  need  management;  for  if  you  do,  and  allow  your  fowls 
to  manage  themselves  according  to  their  own  "  sweet  will,"  you 
will  be  sure  to  get  small  returns  from  them,  while  they  will  be  a 
source  of  much  expense  in  houses,  appurtenances  and  feed. 

But,  you  may  ask,  what  is  this  management  you  lay  so  much 
stress  on  ?  Management  has  a  wide  signification,  and  which  we 
must  summarize  here.  It  consists,  when  one  makes  up  his  mind  to 
engage  in  poultry  culture  for  profit,  to  slowly,  deliberately  and 
cautiously  think  over  his  love  and  adaptation  for  such  business;  the 
size  and  situation  of  his  place;  whether  there  would  be  necessity  for 
keeping  his  fowls  constantly  confined  on  account  of  close  neighbors 
or  other  causes;  the  proximity  to  a  city,  or  good  market  by  railroad, 
not  far  away,  and  the  well  studied  and  best  liked  choice,  whether  to 
breed  high  class  thoroughbreds  for  fancy  prices,  or  graded  or  cross- 
bred fowls  for  market. 

If  one  prefers  thoroughbreds,  it  is  good  management  to  start 
with  a  prime,  healthy  and  salable  breed,  one  that  he  likes  and  would 
take  much  interest  in,  and  give  them  the  proper  care  needed.  If 
his  choice  is  to  cater  to  the  open  market,  and  to  supply  hotels,  res- 


74  WYANDOTTES. 

taurants  and  private  families,  it  is  good  management  to  start  with 
such  breeds  as  will  be  first  class  layers  and  first  class  table  fowls,  in 
order  to  supply  customers  with  fresh  eggs  and  fowl  flesh  regularly. 

Wyandottes  are  eminently  adapted  for  both  purposes.  There 
is  not  a  breed  or  family  in  the  Standard  that  is  more  popular  at 
present.  The  fancier  is  sure  of  ready  sale  and  fair  prices,  as  there 
is  a  large  field  to  be  supplied,  and  they  are  growing  in  public  favor 
as  they  are  growing  older.  The  Whites  stand  at  the  head  for  table 
use,  either  as  broilers  or  roasters,  and  the  addition  of  a  flock  of 
White  Leghorns  would  complete  a  select  stock  for  market. 

Good  management  is  seen  in  the  situation,  site,  make,  plainness 
and  internal  arrangements  of  the  fowl  houses  and  runs.  It  is  seen 
in  whether  one  could  utilize  the  runs  for  vegetables,  fruit  trees,  vines 
or  berries  every  second  year  by  using  double  runs,  or  annually  by 
single  ones.  It  is  seen  in  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  fowl 
houses,  for  divisions  and  sleeping  places;  each  small  flock  of  a  dozen 
forming  a  little  colony  by  themselves.  It  is  seen  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  laying  nests,  baths,  sitting  places,  and  nurseries  for  early 
broods.  It  is  seen  in  the  ability  for  making  contracts  for  eggs  and 
fowls  throughout  the  year,  and  in  filling  such  contracts.  It  is  seen 
in  the  system  of  packing  eggs  when  cheap  and  making  sales  when 
dear.  It  is  seen  in  the  purchasing  of  grain,  roots  and  vegetables 
from  farmers  early  in  the  fall  when  they  are  cheap,  or,  better  yet,  if 
one  could  raise  the  different  kinds  of  food  for  his  stock  without  buy- 
ing them.  It  is  seen  in  taking  advantage  of  the  markets  when  prices 
rule  high,  and  in  having  broods  mature  for  a  succession  of  eggs,  or 
in  a  stage  of  development  for  sale  early  or  late  in  the  season,  when 
there  is  no  glut  of  fowls  or  eggs  in  market;  and,  lastly,  it  is  seen  in 
the  system,  regularity  and  punctuality  of  doing  business. 

Now  in  the  matter  of  thoroughbred  culture,  all  the  foregoing 
qualities  are  essential  in  the  fancier,  and  in  the  carrying  out  of  his 
business.  In  addition,  he  should  have  a  good  knowledge  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  breed  he  cultivates,  and  the  most  judicious 
ways  of  breeding,  feeding  and  raising  prime,  young  stock  for  sale; 
and  the  most  judicious  way  of  selling  them  to  good  advantage  early 
in  the  fall,  so  as  to  avoid  building  extra  quarters  and  feeding  a 
large  surplus  stock  through  the  winter  and  endangering  their  health. 
Good  management  is  seen  in  judicious  advertising.  Not  that  one 
should  advertise  in  every  poultry  publication,  but  in  one  or  more 
well  established  and  first  class  journals,  like  the  MONTHLV,  which 
has  a  large  and  bona  fide  circulation.  The  advertising  should  not 


MANAGEMENT,  CARE  AND  FEEDING.  75 

be  spasmodic — now  and  then,  when  trade  is  lively,  but  steady  adver- 
tising while  in  business;  not  necessarily  occupying  large  space,  but 
neat,  to  the  point,  and  truthful  in  all  respects.  Honesty  in  dealing, 
doing  as  you  wish  to  be  done  by;  making  no  false  statements;  keep- 
ing first  class  stock  and  selling  at  fair  prices,  according  to  quality, 
will  eventually  bring  success  and  establish  a  name  for  reliability. 

CARE. 

ATTENTION  TO  DETAILS. — To  attain  high  rank  as  a  breeder  and 
success  as  a  business  man,  one  must  give  attention  to  details.  We 
remember  that  success  is  not  accidental,  but  is  attained  after  years 
of  good  management,  industry  and  attention  to  business.  The 
amateur  does  not  usually  think  over  the  obstacles  before  him,  and 
complacently  looks  at  the  success  which  crowns  the  efforts  of  vet- 
eran fanciers  in  a  different  light,  and  attributes  this  success  not  to 
the  labors  of  years  or  close  attention  to  business,  but  rather  to  the 
luck  of  breeding  some  popular  varieties  and  of  bringing  them  prom- 
inently before  the  people. 

What  is  the  object  of  keeping  poultry  if  one  does  not  attend  to 
their  wants  and  get  something  in  return  for  his  care,  time  and  out- 
lay ?  Some  start  out  with  good  intentions,  but  never  put  them  in 
practice.  What  is  the  use  of  buying  first  class  stock  and  neglect 
them  afterwards  ?  All  our  improved  breeds  must  be  kept  up  to  the 
highest  condition  year  after  year,  or  they  will  deteriorate  more 
rapidly  than  they  have  improved.  We  may  say,  we  are  fond  of 
fowls,  like  to  see  them  around  us,  and  all  that,  but  when  it  comes 
to  feeding  and  caring  for  them  regularly,  making  their  quarters  com- 
fortable and  clean,  we  are  apt  to  become  careless  and  shamefully 
allow  the  poor  birds  to  suffer  from  hunger  and  disease  through  our 
negligence.  4 

ECONOMY. — There  is  nothing  like  economy  in  the  transaction 
of  business,  as  it  makes  up  for  many  little  drawbacks  of  the  head 
and  hand  in  our  efforts  through  life.  It  bridges  the  gulf  which 
divides  poverty  and  wealth,  and  aids  the  inexperienced  poulterer  to 
raise  fowls  without  wasting  food,  and  in  making  use  of  different 
kinds  of  food  by  mixing  and  cooking,  saving  the  most  costly  by 
substituting  other  kinds  better  adapted  for  fowls.  It  curbs  imagina- 
tive ideas  of  profit  and  expenditure,  and  its  practice  is  usually 
rewarded  by  a  sure  and  safe  living  on  the  earnings  or  profits  of 
one's  pursuit. 

Economy  and  good  management  will  prop  the  poultryman  up 


76  WYANDOTTES. 

when  at  the  point  of  staggering  from  other  causes.  It  will  be  a  vast 
help  to  him  in  the  absence  of  experience.  It  will  suggest  to  him 
that  old  fowls  are  not  profitable,  that  the  days  of  their  usefulness 
have  passed,  and  that  the  longer  they  are  kept  the  worse  they  will 
getting  and  the  greater  the  bill  of  expense.  If  you  want  to  make 
a  profit  on  fowl  stock,  keep  no  hen  after  she  passes  her  third  year, 
except  she  is  an  extraordinarily  well  marked  bird,  or  has  some  other 
vaftable  quality;  and  if  breeding  for  market,  two-year  old  hens 
should  be  fattened  and  sold  in  the  fall  before  moulting.  If  one 
laboft  to  procure  means  of  support  and  something  to  lay  by  for  old 
age  oppressing  necessity,  it  is  a  poor  plan  to  keep  a  lot  of  old  hens 
which\ay  one  day  and  rest  six;  which  have  not  enough  ambition  to 
lose  si^it  of  the  corn  crib;  which,  as  a  rule,  are  diseased  in  some 
way;  are  lousy  and  lazy,  with  huge  bunches  on  their  legs,  or  bag- 
ging down  behind  from  fat  or  old  tumors  in  the  oviduct,  and  whose 
flesh  would  be  as  tough  as  that  of  a  rhinoceros. 

Care  has  much  to  do  with  making  fowls  profitable  and  also 
improving  their  looks.  No  one  should  take  on  himself  the  respon- 
sibility and  guardianship  of  fowls  without  giving  them  needed  care. 
Food  will  give  nourishment,  repair  the  wastes  of  the  system,  enrich 
the  blood,  furnish  the  material  for  eggs  and  nutriment  for  growth 
and  flesh;  but  if  the  birds  be  neglected,  have  poor  and  illy  venti- 
lated quarters,  damp  and  unclean  sleeping  places  or  yards,  the 
quantity  or  quality  of  the  food  fed  to  them  will  not  counteract  the 
effects  of  bad  care.  Care,  however,  does  not  imply  that  they  should 
be  stuffed  like  a  bolster,  or  coddled  by  over  zeal  or  mistaken  kind- 
ness; care  is  that  which  bestows  with  a  kind  hand  an  adequate  sup- 
ply for  their  wants. 

CLEANLINESS. — This  is  the  most  important  duty  in  the  routine 
of  care,  and  we  cannot  too  strongly  impress  its  observance  on  the 
breeder.  It  matters  not  how  good  the  stock  may  be  in  the  beginning, 
how  well  they  may  be  fed,  if  scrupulous  cleanliness  be  not  observed, 
all  goes  for  nothing.  There  is  no  dodging  or  avoiding  the  effects 
of  uncleanliness  ;  all  the  condition  powders,  elixirs,  or  chicken 
nostrums  in  existence  cannot  keep  a  flock  of  fowls  in  good  health 
and  laying  condition  while  they  eat,  scratch,  wallow  and  remain  day 
or  night  in  a  foul  smelling  house  and  "  up  to  their  knees  "  in  their 
own  fetid  droppings.  If  one  has  a  heart  in  the  right  place,  and  is  a 
lover  of  cleanliness  and  tidiness,  he  will  not  allow  filth  to  accumulate 
in  the  houses  or  runs.  Many  a  sickly  hen,  many  which  have  ceased 
laying,  and  many  an  emaciated  and  piping  chicken,  can  lawfully 


.MANAGEMENT,  CARE  AND  FEEDING.  77 

curse  uncleanliness  for  the  lice  and  constitutional  diseases  which  it 
has  brought  on. 

EXERCISE. — This  may  seem  of  .little  importance  to  the  young 
beginner,  and  yet,  it  is  essential  to  health.  Inertness  will  favor 
obesity,  and  obesity  is  antagonistic  to  fecundity.  Fowls  which  do 
not  take  proper  exercise,  will  decrease  in  egg  production,  and  no 
dependence  can  be  placed  on  them  as  stock-getters.  In  cold 
weather,  and  when  being  confined,  exercise  is  doubly  necessary,  as 
it  stirs  the  blood  to  a  freer  circulation,  strengthens  the  muscles, 
gives  a  healthy  appetite,  draws  away  their  attention  from  feather 
plucking  and  egg  eating,  and  improves  all  their  physical  qualities. 
Nature  has  designed  more  or  less  exercise  for  every  organic  thing, 
in  order  to  promote  endurance,  hardiness,  development,  keen  ap- 
petite, good  health  and  fecundity. 

OVERCROWDING. — The  evils  of  overcrowding  fowls  in  houses 
or  runs  are  greater  than  the  average  breeder  is  aware  of.  Fowls 
will  not  bear  to  be  crowded;  it  matters  not  how  thrifty  they  may  be 
in  small  flocks,  when  massed,  they  will  show,  by  their  looks  and 
decrease  of  egg  production,  the  effects  of  overcrowding.  The  males 
will  lose  their  natural  vigor  and  sexual  propensities,  and  the  females 
will  become  pale,  dumpish  and  sickly.  The  affluvia  from  their 
feathers  and  digestive  channels  mix  with  the  air  they  breathe,  and, 
this  repeated  every  moment  during  day  and  night,  poisons  the 
blood,  and  lays  the  foundation  of  cholera  and  other  dangerous  dis- 
eases. Vermin  are  also  to  be  dreaded  in  a  filthy  and  overcrowded 
hennery,  and,  if  you  value  your  fowls,  and  your  reputation,  never 
overcrowd  your  houses,  or  you  will  be  the  sufferer.  Cleanliness  will 
do  a  great  deal  to  avert  rapid  decimation,  but  it  cannot  save  all,  and 
there  is  nothing  more  certain  than  that  sickness,  death,  lice  and  de- 
crease of  eggs  will  follow  the  massing  of  a  large  number  of  fowls  in 
one  place. 

HATCHING  AND  REARING  OF  CHICKENS. 

Most  all  beginners  in  chicken  culture  think  this  is  simple,  and 
needs  no  previous  experience.  They  begin  with  the  assurance  that 
there  is  no  knack  in  making  a  nest,  depositing  eleven  or  thirteen 
eggs,  and  placing  a  broody  hen  over  them.  The  hen  becomes 
broody  of  her  own  accord,  and  will  set  three  weeks  if  not  disturbed; 
the  chicks  will  come  out  in  due  time,  and  thoroughbreds  will  repro- 
duce themselves,  so  it  does  not  matter  whether  one  is  skilled  or  not, 
the  chicks  come  all  the  same.  A  little  cornmeal  dough  in  the 


78  WYANDOTTES. 

beginning,  and,  later  on,  cracked  corn  and  wheat,  so  that,  as  the 
chicks  grow  older  they  will  be  able  to  provide  partly  for  them- 
selves, and  partake  of  the  fare  given  to  old  fowls. 

HATCHING. — Such  ideas  as  the  above  are  common  to  novices. 
It  is  advisable  to  save  the  eggs  from  your  best  laying  hens,  in 
preference  to  those  laid  by  pullets  Select  the  largest  and  best 
shaped  of  the  medium-sized  eggs,  those  with  a  smooth  shell  and  fresh 
looking  in  color.  When  one  of  your  hens  manifests  a  desire  to  sit, 
after  remaining  on  the  nest  when  her  companions  go  to  roost,  put  a 
nest  egg  under  her  and  allow  her  freedom  to  act.  If  she  proves 
true  to  her  duty,  make  a  nest  in  a  secluded  place  away  from  other 
hens,  fashion  the  nest  and  surroundings  as  much  like  the  old  one 
as  possible,  and  move  her  at  night  quietly  and  tenderly,  with  the 
nest  egg.  If  she  shows  business  on  the  new  nest  after  a  day,  she 
may  be  trusted  with  valuable  eggs.  Hens  are  usually  steadier 
sitters  than  pullets. 

There  are  signs  by  which  the  novice  may  be  able  to  tell  whether 
the  broody  hen  means  business  or  not;  steady  laying  for  some  time 
previous  to  clucking,  remaining  on  the  nest  over  night,  holding 
possession  of  the  nest  against  the  attacks  of  the  hens,  screaming 
and  drawing  the  head  in  with  the  erection  of  feathers  on  the  head 
and  neck,  pecking  one's  hand  when  touching  her,  throwing  straw 
towards  her  back,  shuffling  her  legs  to  get  a  steady  pressure  for  her 
feet,  and  when  done  give  out  a  few  notes  of  contentment  and  solici- 
tude, in  the  same  key  as  when  brooding  the  chickens  at  night  after 
being  disturbed. 

FEEDING. 

FEEDING  CHICKENS. — Next  to  warmth  and  proper  brooding, 
which  is  so  essential  to  young  chicks  after  being  hatched,  is  generous 
and  judicious  feeding.  Remember  that  your  brood  came  from 
warm  tenements,  living  and  breathing  at  104°  Fah.,  and  now  the 
atmosphere  about  them  is  perhaps  thirty,  forty,  fifty  or  sixty  degrees 
lower.  This  is  wrong ;  this  is  not  proper  care.  Cold  checks 
nutrition;  the  food  absorbed  when  leaving  the  shell  is  not  assimilated 
while  suffering  from  such  a  rapid  change  of  temperature.  Many  of 
the  ailments  common  to  chickenhood  could  be  traced  to  this  lowering 
of  the  temperature  after  being  hatched,  for  there  is  a  check  on 
nutrition  below  75°  Fah. 

The  first  week,  hard  boiled  egg  and  stale  wheat  bread  crumbs, 
or  pulverized  crackers,  half  and  half,  and  before  mixing  them  pour 


MANAGEMENT,  CARE  AND  FEEDING.  79 

scalded  milk  on  the  bread;  drain  off  and  mix  with  the  egg  and 
place  it  on  a  sheet  of  brown  paper.  A  crumb  may  be  put  into  a 
saucer  of  milk  to  attract  their  eye  and  learn  them  to  drink  by  peck- 
ing at  the  crumb.  Give  them  cracker  and  a  little  of  the  chopped 
egg;  another  time,  a  little  egg  and  dry  oatmeal,  and  scalded  milk  at 
all  times.  After  a  week  dispense  with  the  egg,  but  continue  the 
bread  crumbs  and  milk,  johnny  cake,  dry  oatmeal,  broken  wheat, 
millet  seed,  cottage  cheese,  cut  onions,  fine  bits  of  boiled  meat  and 
such  like,  as  would  be  suitable  to  their  digestive  organs.  Some 
sharp  sand  in  front  of  the  coop,  and  some  loose  earth  for  scratching, 
will  also  be  necessary  after  the  first  week.  The  food  may  be  varied 
as  they  grow  older,  and  coarser  and  cheaper  food  gradually  sub- 
stituted until  they  can  partake  of  the  usual  fare  for  adult  fowls. 

FEEDING  THE  ADULT  FOWLS. — "Variety  is  the  spice  of  life," 
and  the  good  effects  of  variety  of  food  is  apparent  in  the  flock. 
There  is  altogether  too  much  corn  fed  to  fowls.  Barley,  oats,  buck- 
wheat and  wheat  are  much  better  for  young  and  old  birds  than  a 
regimen  of  corn.  Corn  is  lacking  in  mineral  and  albumen  com- 
ponents; it  is  too  heating  and  drying  to  both  blood  and  tissue.  It 
is  poor  food  for  young  chicks  when  mixed  with  cold  water;  when 
scalded  and  made  friable,  a  mess  once  in  a  while  will  be  in  place,  or 
if  boiled  to  a  pudding  consistency  and  seasoned,  it  is  good  for 
young  or  old. 

Fowls  should  have  plenty  of  coarse  stuff  with  grain.  Bran  and 
middlings,  barley  meal,  oats  and  corn  ground,  vegetables  and  roots, 
scraps  of  meat,  slaughter  house  offal,  especially  blood,  fresh  clover, 
wheat  and  buckwheat  for  the  laying  hens;  corn  and  corn  meal  pud- 
ding and  other  fat-producing  food  for  market  poultry.  If  the  substance 
contains  nitrogen,  it  is  most  fitted  for  the  nourishment  of  tissue  and 
is  called  plastic  or  nitrogenous;  if  it  is  deficient  in  nitrogen  and  has 
an  excess  of  carbon  or  hydrogen,  it  appears  to  undergo  combustion 
in  the  body,  and  is  called  hydrogenous,  or  respiratory  element  of 
food  (hydro-carbon);  if  it  is  fatty  in  its  nature,  it  performs  the  double 
duty  of  maintaining  animal  warmth  and  assisting  in  the  assimilation 
of  nitrogenous  compounds,  and  if  it  is  saline  in  its  quality,  it  goes 
to  build  up  the  solid  textures  of  the  animal  frame,  and  aids  the 
important  work  of  carrying  new  materials  into  the  system,  and  old 
or  effete  matter  out  of  it. 

Grain  and  green  food  in  variety,  will  do  a  great  deal  towards 
giving  a  bountiful  supply  of  eggs  in  mild  seasons;  but  with 
the  addition  of  animal  food  in  moderate  quantity,  the  number 


8o  WYANDOTTES. 

will  be  increased.  The  best  way  to  supply  fowls  with  whole- 
some food  at  little  cost  is  to  procure  slaughter-house  pieces,  those 
which  are  coarse  and  bloody,  which  can  be  had  for  little  or  nothing. 
Chop  them  up  fine,  bones  and  all;  put  them  in  a  boiler  and  fill  with 
water;  when  thoroughly  cooked,  so  the  flesh  will  easily  fall  from  the 
bones,  then  stir  in  some  ground  oats,  corn  and  barley,  or  either  in 
the  form  of  meal  alone,  if  the  whole  cannot  be  conveniently  found 
at  the  mills  or  feed  stores.  Keep  stirring  and  cooking  till  it  becomes 
thick  as  mush;  season  with  salt  and  pepper;  pour  the  mess  into 
pans  or  jars  and  put  away  in  a  cool  place,  if  there  is  too  much  for  a 
day's  feed,  while  for  present  use  it  is  more  relished  if  fed  agreeably 
warm  to  the  fowls.  This  is  an  excellent  mixture  for  young  or  old, 
for  flesh  or  eggs,  and  besides  being  wholesome  and  nutritious,  it  is 
less  expensive  than  grain. 


HOUSING  FOWLS. 


There  is  no  necessity  for  elaborate  and  expensive  houses  for 
fowls,  as  they  do  not  make  the  inmates  any  better.  A  palace  or 
hovel  is  the  same  to  the  hens,  and  there  is  only  one  excuse  for  build- 
ing costly  houses,  and  that  is,  a  man  of  wealth,  or  fancier  of  means, 
who,  having  a  handsome  residence  and  pleasant  surroundings,  does 
not  like  to  mar  his  home  by  putting  up  a  cheap  and  common-looking 
hennery  in  their  midst.  Those  who  are  well  to  do  in  the  world's 
goods  may  satisfy  their  taste,  but  nothing  more  than  a  plain,  com- 
modious and  comfortable  house  is  required  for  the  majority  engaged 
in  poultry  culture. 

The  situation  of  a  house  has  much  to  do  with  its  health  and 
comfort.  It  should  be  erected  on  the  highest  piece  of  ground  con- 
venient, and  if  there  is  no  choice,  the  site  should  be  filled  up  with 
sand  and  loam  so  it  would  be  eighteen  inches  or  two  feet  above  the 
outside,  to  prevent  rain  and  dampness  affecting  the  inside.  One 
cannot  lay  down  rules  that  will  suit  individual  cases,  and  only  in  a 
general  way  can  we  suggest  what  to  do.  We  prefer  small  houses 
and  each  one  its  own  assigned  run,  and  each  run  utilized  with  fruit 
trees,  shrubbery,  root  crops  or  grain,  to  lessen  the  expense  and  rid 
it  of  its  deleterious  accumulations.  One  should  plan  before  build- 
ing how  to  make  double  runs,  so  that  the  fowls  could  be  readily 
changed  from  one  to  the  other  while  the  crops  are  growing  and 
ripening. 

Every  run  should  have  enough  of  permanent  grass  and  clover 
for  the  fowls.  Each  house  or  division  of  house  large  enough  for  a 
dozen  hens.  The  fencing  should  be  arranged  on  one  set  of  runs, 
so  it  could  be  taken  down  and  put  up  with  ease.  This  can  be  done 
by  the  use  of  sections,  say  twelve  feet  long,  and  the  use  of  hooks 
and  staples  to  the  posts.  This  would  facilitate  the  ploughing  or  the 
making  of  temporary  new  runs.  If  breeding  for  market  is  the  main 


82  WYANDOTTES. 

object,  less  fencing  would  be  needed,  as  small  flocks  of  one  breed 
could  run  together  at  large,  if  the  crops  stand  no  danger  of  being 
injured  by  their  having  liberty.  This  and  other  points  must  be  con- 
sidered by  the  breeder,  and  his  own  good  sense  will  suggest  what 
is  best  to  do. 

We  prefer  fresh  earth  and  road  dust  for  floors  and  baths,  in 
preference  to  wooden  floors.  The  fowls  will  like  it  better  and  it  is 
more  natural  and  healthful.  It  should  always  be  loose,  and  once  or 
twice  a  week  a  close  rake  drawn  through  will  gather  the  droppings, 
and  the  constant  scratching  will  cover  the  fresh  droppings  and 
prevent  the  liberation  of  ammonia  to  a  certain  extent.  The  baths 
should  be  of  dry  road  dust  and  placed  where  the  sun  shines  on 
them.  The  perches  for  Wyandottes  should  not  exceed  three  feet 
high,  and  they  should  be  about  three  or  four  inches  wide,  beveled, 
or,  in  other  words,  rounding  in  the  middle,  with  edges  taken  off  so 
that  the  form  will  fit  to  the  hollow  of  the  feet  when  the  claws  have 
grasped  the  perch;  two  by  four  scantling,  rounded  off,  make  a  solid 
perch. 

A  good  plan  when  putting  up  perches  is  to  have  them  rest  on 
half  cups  of  cast  iron,  in  which  kerosene  may  every  few  weeks  be  put, 
to  permeate  through  the  pores  of  the  wood,  to  keep  lice  and  parasites 
away,  and  they  should  be  on  a  level  and  far  enough  apart  to  prevent 
the  fowls  from  pecking  at  each  other  from  the  perches.  A  feeding 
box  for  each  small  flock  is  a  great  saving,  besides  keeping  the  food 
clean  and  away  from  rats  and  mice.  Oyster  shells,  ground  bone, 
old  mortar  and  slacked  lime,  charcoal  or  charred  corn,  sharp  gravel 
and  a  water  fountain,  are  indispensable  in  every  house  whether  you 
are  breeding  high  class  or  market  fowls. 


PART   SEVENTH. 


DISEASES  AND  TREATMENT. 


CHOLERA. — This  disease  is  aptly  called  the  "scourge  of  the 
poultry  yard,"  and  in  truth  it  is  the  most  rapid  and  fatal  of  the  ills 
to  which  fowls  are  subject.  A  bird  which  becomes  a  prey  to  cholera 
is  nerveless,  staggers  and  carries  its  wings  drooped;  its  feathers  are 
ruffled,  head  drawn  in,  and  it  is  overcome  with  intense  drowsiness. 
The  bird  has  no  desire  for  food,  drinks  a  great  deal,  a  severe 
diarrhoea  sets  in  from  the  beginning,  the  evacuations  are  thin, 
yellowish  in  color,  and  later,  a  mixture  of  sulphur  color  and  green, 
quite  frothy  in  appearance.  Sometimes  death  follows  in  one  day, 
and  again  the  bird  may  live  two  or  three  days  and  perhaps  longer. 

There  has  been  no  specific  discovered  for  cholera,  as  the  cause 
does  not  proceed  from  a  disarrangement  of  the  system,  but  is  due 
directly  to  the  presence  of  microbes,  which  are  similar  to  the  species 
which  cause  cholera  in  man  and  swine.  Of  course,  when  the  system 
is  impure,  lowered  in  vitality  and  disarranged  from  one  cause  or 
another,  it  invites  disease  as  it  is  favorable  for  those  infinitesimal  or 
microscopic  animals,  to  attack  both  the  blood  and  vital  organs. 
Enteritis  or  inflammation  of  the  bowels  is  often  taken  for  cholera, 
but  there  is  a  congestion  of  blood  about  the  head  in  cholera  which 
turns  the  face,  comb  and  wattles  purple,  which  is  unusual  in 
enteritis. 

This  disease  calls  for  active  and  heroic  treatment.  The  sick 
birds  must  be  moved  away  from  the  flock.  Give  calomel  and  blue 
mass  in  two  grain  doses,  or  four  grains  of  blue  mass  mixed  with  two 
grains  each  of  gum  camphor,  cayenne  pepper  and  rhubarb,  divided 
into  four  parts — one  to  be  taken  every  four  hours.  Another  remedy 


• 

84  WYANDOTTES. 

always  handy  and  quite  successful,  is  kerosene.  Mix  one  teaspoon- 
ful  of  kerosene,  a  little  butter,  a  pinch  of  red  pepper,  some  garlic 
and  enough  of  flour  to  make  six  pills;  give  one  every  two  hours. 
If  the  garlic  is  inconvenient,  do  without  it.  Six  drops  of  kerosene 
in  a  teaspoonful  of  scalded  milk  is  excellent;  or  kerosene  mixed 
with  bread,  meal  or  flour  and  made  into  boluses,  one  every  hour  or 
two,  will  serve  the  same  purpose  on  a  pinch.  Six  drops  of  carbolic 
acid  in  a  teaspoonful  of  scalded  milk  is  a  good  remedy;  four  drops 
of  chlorodyne  in  a  half  teaspoonful  of  water  every  two  hours  is  a 
splendid  remedy. 

ROUP. — This  disease  is  common,  and  usually  proceeds  from  a 
cold  in  the  head,  like  catarrh,  if  not  taken  from  another  fowl.  It 
shows  from  a  running  at  the  nostrils,  watery  eyes  and  difficult 
breathing.  When  first  taken,  five  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite 
in  a  teaspoonful  of  water  twice  a  day  will  cure  it.  The  aconite  may 
be  given  on  pieces  of  bread,  but  mixing  with  some  liquid  is  better. 
Get  one  ounce  of  camphorated  oil  and  put  five  or  six  drops  of  crude 
carbolic  acid  in  it,  and  inject  this  mixture  into  the  nostrils  twice  a 
day  with  a  sewing  machine  oil  can,  or  work  it  in  with  a  feather  hold- 
ing the  head  back  at  the  same  time,  if  you  have  no  can.  A  solution 
of  carbolic  acid,  say  one  of  acid  to  thirty  of  water,  injected  in  the 
same  way,  will  answer.  "  If  the  disease  becomes  severe  and  bad 
smelling,  wash  the  face  and  nostrils  with  castile  soap  and  warm 
water;  press  all  the  matter  out  of  the  nostrils  and  have  ready  at  the 
same  time,  in  a  bottle,  equal  parts  of  sugar  of  lead,  pulverized  alum 
and  enough  of  acetic  acid  to  make  the  mixture  about  the  thickness 
of  cream;  if  the  acid  cannot  be  got  handy,  use  the  same  amount  of 
old  cider  vinegar  in  its  place,  be  sure  it  is  cider  vinegar,  but  if  the 
acetic  acid  is  handy,  use  it.  Now  inject  some  of  this  mixture  into 
the  nostrils  as  above  directed,  but  in  the  absence  of  a  can,  work  it 
in  with  a  feather,  this  will  cure  roup  if  applied  properly.  Do  this 
twice  a  day  in  very  bad  cases,  once  a  day  in  ordinary  cases.  It  is 
the  mucous  membranes  of  the  nostrils  and  orifice  which  are  affected 
and  these  must  be  reached  by  injection  or  the  use  of  a  feather. 
Two  ounces  of  this  mixture  will  last  some  time  for  roup  cases.  Of 
course  the  sick  birds  must  be  separated  from  others  and  fed  on  soft 
food.  Be  sure  to  wash  the  face  and  nostrils  clean  once  or  twice  a 
day,  or  the  virus  of  the  matter  will  poison  the  face  and  eyes  and 
cause  lumps  and  blindness. 

DIPHTHERIA. — This  is  a  malignant  and  infectious  disease.  The 
mouth  and  throat  are  filled  with  white  viscous  fluid,  like  thick  saliva, 


DISEASES  AND  TREATMENT.  85 

with  small  white  ulcers.  Diphtheric  roup  is  another  form  of  this  dis- 
ease, characterized  by  cheesy  matter  in  the  throat.  Swab  the  mouth 
and  throat  with  a  mixture  of  sulphur  and  perchloride  of  iron;  then 
paint  with  the  following  dressing:  carbolic  acid  one  drachm,  sulphur- 
ous acid  three  drachms,  tincture  of  perchloride  of  iron  half  an  ounce, 
glycerine  one-half  ounce;  dress  all  the  places  with  this  night  and 
morning  with  a  camel  hair  pencil.  Another  good  remedy  is  paint- 
ing the  affected  spots  with  a  mixture  of  tannic  acid  and  glycerine, 
or  boracic  acid  ointment. 

DIARRHCEA. — This  is  too  well  known  to  need  description.  The 
best  remedy  for  this  ailment  is  four  drops  of  chlorodyne  in  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  milk  every  four  hours;  less  number  of  drops  for  a 
chicken.  This  medicine  must  not  be  given  carelessly.  When  the 
ailment  is  not  too  severe,  a  milder  remedy  will  be  found  in 
five  grains  of  powdered  chalk,  five  grains  of  rhubarb,  and  three 
grains  of  cayenne  pepper,  divided  in  four  parts,  each  given  every 
four  hours;  or  in  place  of  this  give  ten  drops  of  laudanum  in  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  water  twice  a  day;  less  quantity  for  chickens;  or  a  syrup 
of  lactaphosphate  of  lime  in  half  teaspoonful  doses  twice  a  day  is 
beneficial.  The  chlorodyne  is  almost  a  specific  for  this  disease; 
two  drops  for  a  small  chicken  and  increasing  to  five  for  an  adult 
bird,  and  must  be  given  in  a  little  water. 

CANKER. — This  disease  is  common  to  all  fowls,  but  more 
especially  to  the  Game.  The  canker  should  be  washed  with  beef 
brine,  a  solution  of  saltpetre,  alum,  borax,  warm  vinegar  and  such 
like  to  destroy  the  pus.  Painting  with  a  mixture  of  carbolic  acid 
glycerine,  or  boracic  acid  ointment,  will  usually  cure  it.  Other  good 
remedies  are  as  follows:  Wash  clean  till  the  scab  comes  off  and 
apply  a  pinch  of  burnt  alum,  or  touch  it  with  nitrate  of  silver,  or 
paint  twice  daily  with  perchloride  of  iron,  and  then  apply  the  lunar 
caustic. 

GAPES. — This  is  a  very  troublesome  ailment  among  chickens, 
and  is  caused  by  the  presence  of  small  worms  of  a  cylindrical  form, 
red  in  color  and  forked  with  two  unequal  branches,  and  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  in  length.  There  are  many  remedies,  some  quite 
simple  and  others  tedious  and  complicated.  A  very  successful 
remedy  is  to  feed  those  which  have  the  gapes  with  a  warm  mess  of 
corn  meal,  moistened  with  milk  or  boiling  water,  and  to  each  pint 
of  meal  add  a  teaspoonful  of  spirits  of  turpentine.  Mix  the  turpen- 
tine with  the  meal  while  the  meal  is  dry.  If  the  chickens  refuse  to 
eat  it,  cram  some  down  their  throats;  mix  the  turpentine  fresh  twice 


86  WYANDOTTES. 

a  day.  Dipping  a  feather  in  spirits  of  turpentine  and  twirling  it  in 
the  bird's  throat  often  cures.  The  use  of  a  horse  hair  loop  in  the 
same  way  is  beneficial.  A  gargle  composed  of  carbolic  acid  one 
part,  water  ten  parts,  and  salicylic  acid  one  part;  press  the  gullet 
of  the  fowl  with  thumb  and  finger  so  that  the  mixture  will  not  pass 
through,  then  fill  the  mouth  with  the  gargle  and  let  it  remain  a 
moment,  then  pour  it  out;  place  the  sick  birds  in  a  box  and  subject 
them  to  the  fumes  of  carbolic  acid.  A  mixture  of  equal  parts  of 
sweet  oil  and  turpentine  conveyed  to  the  throat  by  the  use  of  a 
feather,  twisting  it  about  a  few  times  and  then  withdrawing,  is 
good.  A  piece  of  indigo  the  size  of  a  pea,  with  a  pinch  of  black 
pepper,  three  times  a  day,  is  recommended.  A  pinch  of  air-slaked 
lime,  blown  down  the  throat,  is  good.  A  little  kerosene,  both  inter- 
nally and  externally,  has  proved  valuable.  Garlic  and  asafoetida, 
singly  or  combined,  are  splendid.  A  pill  of  gum  camphor,  or  a  few 
drops  of  a  strong  solution  of  camphor  has  been  favorably  used. 
Mix  in  soft  food  a  pinch  of  fine  tobacco,  or  a  few  drops  of  a  solu- 
tion of  tobacco,  is  also  recommended. 

SCALY  LEGS. — Kerosene  or  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid  rubbed 
under  the  scales  with  an  old  tooth  brush  will  kill  these  microscopic 
parasites.  An  ointment  of  sulphur  and  lard  applied  daily  will  cure. 

BUMBLE  FOOT. — This  ailment  sometimes  becomes  a  hard  swell- 
ing like  a  corn,  and  again  festers  like  a  stone  bruise  or  "  frog  felon," 
to  use  a  homely  phrase.  When  it  settles  to  a  hard  corn,  the  skin 
must  be  pared  as  one  would  an  ordinary  corn,  and  when  it  is 
close  enough  to  show  blood  without  drawing  it,  use  lunar  caustic  to 
kill  the  roots.  When  the  lump  swells  and  feels  that  it  contains 
matter,  wait  until  it  ripens,  then  with  a  lance  or  very  sharp  knife, 
make  two  cuts  in  the  form  of  a  cross;  squeeze  out  all  the  matter 
and  syringe  with  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  one  of  acid  to  thirty  of 
water,  once  or  twice  a  day;  a  feather  will  do  in  the  absence  of  a 
syringe.  When  the  pus  has  been  squeezed  out,  touch  the  core  twice 
a  day  with  lunar  caustic;  keep  the  bird  on  chaff  or  cut  straw  until 
it  heals,  and  while  healing  rub  on  some  vaseline.  In  the  beginning 
a  corn  may  be  scattered  by  painting  the  spot  freely  with  tincture  of 
iodine. 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 


We  have  endeavored  to  give,  in  the  preceding  pages,  as  much 
information  on  Wyandottes  as  our  space  would  allow.  They  are 
collectively  a  grand  race  and  an  honor  to  American  skill.  They  are 
as  near  the  breeder's  ideal  of  the  long  wished  for  "  coming  fowl  "  as 
it  seems  possible  to  produce.  With  united  efforts  and  a  love  for 
the  work,  they  can  be  brought  to  a  high  state  of  excellence  for  the 
show-room  and  housekeeper,  the  cottager  and  farmer,  and  handsome 
and  useful  in  a  high  degree. 

It  is  certain  that  Wyandottes  brought  up  to  a  high  standard  in 
productiveness  and  table  qualities,  beautified  in  plumage,  and  kept 
up  to  their  highest  physical  attainments,  will  cause  thousands  to  take 
up  their  breeding  for  pleasure  or  profit,  seeing  in  them  every 
characteristic  essential  to  a  first  class  breed.  Fanciers,  too,  will 
make  a  specialty  of  one  or  the  whole  family,  and  where  there  is  one 
now  breeding  Wyandottes,  there  will  be  ten  engaged  in  their 
culture  at  the  dawn  of  1900.  Our  faint  attempts  cannot  do  honor 
to  American  enterprise,  genius  and  skill,  nor  do  justice  to  the  class 
of  fowls  which  our  fanciers  have  evolved  and  improved;  but  their 
work  will  live  after  them,  and  will  be  more  enduring  than  monu- 
ments of  granite. 


.&..   IP. 


CHESTNUT  HILL,   PHILADELPHIA,   PA. 

BREEDER  OF 


birds  are  of  Large  size  and  beautifully  laced  ; 

have  orange-yellow  legs  and  small  combs. 


-^3.00    for   13,    >SS.OO    fox- 


Box  1 6,  PATTERSON,  NEW  YORK. 


SILVER,  WHITE  AND  QOLDEN 


Was  awarded  at  Buffalo  International  Show,  January,  1889,  on  Silvers,  Special 
Grand  Gold  Prize  for  two  Highest  Scoring  Cocks,  two  Cockerels,  two  Hens  and 
two  Pullets;  also  1st,  2d,  3d  and  4th  on  Pullets,  and  1st  and  2d  on  Hens  At  New 
York  Show,  1890,  on  Silvers,  1st  and  3d  on  Pullet;  3d  or  equal  score  with  ist  on 
Golden  Wyandotte  Pullet.  I  also  breed 


Plymouth  Rocks, 


and  my  record  will  not  suffer  in  comparison  with  any  other  breeder  in  America.  At 
New  York  Show,  1890,  won  on  Barred,  W.  K.  Vanderbilt's  Grand  Special  Prize, 
$100.00  in  Gold,  for  best  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  Cockerel  and  four  best  Pullets; 
ist  and  Special  on  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  Cock;  ist  and  Special  on  Barred  Plym- 
outh Rock  Hen.  At  same  show,  February,  1891,  the  lafgest  show  ever  held,  won 
2d  and  5th  on  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  Cock;  ist  and  Special  on  Barred  Plymouth 
Rock  Hen;  1st,  2d  and  4th  on  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  Cockerel;  ist,  2d  and  4th  on 
Barred  Plymouth  Rock  Pullet;  ist  on  Breeding-  Pen;  $25  in  Gold  for  Best  Display. 

I  breed  and  sell  birds  and  eggs  from  above  stock.     Large  circular  (free).     Sat- 
isfaction guaranteed. 


* 


IMFR.OV'EJD 

EXCELSIOR  *  * , 

*  *  *  *  *  INCUBATOR. 


,  Perfect  and 


HUNDREDS  IN  SUCCESSFUL  OPERATION. 

Guaranteed  to  hatch  larger  percentage  of  fertile  eggs  at  less 
cost  than  any  other  hatcher. 


Send  six  cents  for  Illustrated  Catalogue.     Circulars  free. 


IjEO.  jl.  $TAHL, 


.  Quincj,  Illinoi?, 


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